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THE  FIRST  MONITOR. 


A    BRIEF   SKETCH 


THE   FIRST   MONITOR 


AND  ITS  INVENTOR: 


A   PAPER    READ    BEFORE   THE 

BUFFALO    HISTORICAL   SOCIETY, 

JANUARY    5,    1874. 

BY    EBEN.    P.    DORR. 


PUBLISHED  BY  REQUEST.-  SECOXD  EDITION. 


BUFFALO,  N.  Y. 

PRINTING   HOUSE  OF   MATTHEWS  &   WARREN, 
Office  of  the  "Buffalo  Commercial  Advertiser." 

1874- 


M'V-   / 


C/J 


THE  FIRST  MONITOR. 


.  President  and  Gentlemen  of  tlie  Buffalo  Historical  Society: 

For  the  paper  I  am  to  read  to-night  I  do  not  claim  any 
literary  merit.  It  is  simply  a  mass  of  facts,  connected  with 
my  subject,  never  presented  by  any  other  person,  so  far  as 
I  know.  I  have  gathered  the  information  principally  from 
persons  connected  with  and  participating  in  the  acts  and 
scenes  described  ;  and  shall  endeavour  to  give  them  to  you 

«    to-night,  in  my  simple  way,  in  connection  with  the  illustrations 

i    here    for    that    purpose,  to    show  you    the   origin  of   the  first 

"  Monitor  "  and  her    subsequent    career,  down   to  the  time  of 

^     her  being  lost  by  foundering  off  Cape  Hatteras. 

^~ 

in         In  the  progressive  world  at  the  present  era,  with  the  improve- 

Oi 

g    ments  that  have  been  made  in  almost  everything,  and  the  great 
events  that  have  crowded  so  thick  and  fast  upon  us  for  the  past 
few  years,  there  has  been  but  little  time  to  consider  one  idea, 
O    before  another,  often  more  startling  than  the  other,  has  taken 
5£    its  place  and   the  first  is  almost  forgotten.     This  is  especially 
true  of  this  country.     The  Americans  are  in  many  respects  a 
m     peculiar  people  ;  earnest,  active,  versatile ;  a  moving,  changing 
5     race ;  one  sensation  succeeding  another  in  rapid  succession.     In 
**     no  way  has  this  been  better  illustrated  than  in  the  events  that 
transpired  during  the  late  civil  war.     Coming  upon  us  unex- 
pectedly, and  without  preparation  on   the  part  of   the  North, 
the  emergency  had  to  be  met,  with  an  almost  daily  renewal 
of  tact  and  invention  on  our  part. 

Among  the  great  and  stirring  events  of  the  war,  none  perhaps 
created  more  interest  for  the  time  being  than  the  advent  of  the 


"  Monitor."  Certainly  nothing  occurred  during  the  war  that 
exercised  such  a  vast  influence  upon  its  ultimate  results.  What 
the  battle  of  Gettysburg  was  to  the  Army  at  a  later  day,  the 
Tight  between  the  "  Monitor  "  and  the  "  Merrimac  "  was  to  the 
Navy ;  both  were  turning  points  in  the  Rebellion.  Under  the 
gallant  WORDEN  the  "Monitor  "in  1862  fixed  the  boundaries 
of  Rebellion  by  water  at  Hampton  Roads  ;  sixteen  months 
later,  the  brave  but  now-lamented  MEADE,  on  the  well-fought 
and  bloody  field  of  Gettysburg,  with  the  chivalrous,  often- 
whipped  but  never-daunted  Army  of  the  Potomac,  fixed  its 
boundaries  by  land  beyond  Pennsylvania.  Both  battles  said  to 
Rebellion,  "  Thus  far  shalt  thou  go,  but  no  further  ;  "  removing 
the  theatre  of  its  action  back  upon  the  territory  that  originated 
it,  and  in  the  end  crushing  it  forever. 

In  my  opinion  the  people  of  this  country  have  never  attached 
.sufficient  importance  to  the  advent  and  services  of  the  first 
"  Monitor,"  and  the  grand  part  she  performed  in  the  war,  at  an 
important  crisis,  when  our  very  existence  hung  as  it  were  upon 
a  thread. 

This  much,  Mr.  President,  by  way  of  preface  to  my  subject, 
"  The  First  Monitor." 

"  MONITOR  :  One  who  warns  of  faults,  or  informs  of  duty.  One  who 
gives  advice  and  instruction  by  way  of  reproof  or  caution." 

After  I  had  thus  transcribed  Webster's  definition  of  the  word 
"  Monitor,"  J.  wrote  to  Mr.  Ericsson,  the  inventor,  asking  him 
why  his  vessel  was  named  "  Monitor."  He  sent  me  in  reply  a 
copy  of  a  letter  he  had  written  in  answer  to  a  request  from  the 
Navy  Department  to  provide  a  name  for  his  new  invention, 
which  I  will  give  you  in  due  order.  First,  however,  I  will  read 
a  copy  of  the  contract  to  build  the  "  Monitor,"  taken  from  a 
photographic  copy,  now  in  my  possession,  of  the  original 
contract,  as  executed  by  Messrs.  Ericsson,  Griswold  and  Wins- 
low  on  one  part,  and  Mr.  Thos.  F.  Rowland  on  the  other. 
Mr.  C.  S.  Bushnell,  of  New  Haven,  was  an  associate  con- 
tractor with  Messrs.  Ericsson,  Griswold  and  Winslow,  although 
his  name  does  not  appear  on  the  original  contract. 


COPY    OF    CONTRACT. 

This  Agreement,  made  and  entered  into  this  twenty-fifth  day  of 
October,  A.  D.  1861,  by  and  between  Thomas  F.  Rowland,  agent  in 
behalf  of  the  "  Continental  Iron  Works,"  Green  Point,  Brooklyn,  of 
the  first  part,  and  Capt.  J.  Ericsson  of  New  York,  Messrs.  John  F-. 
Winslow  and  John  A.  Griswold  of  Troy,  N.  Y.,  and  C.  S.  Bushnell  of 
New  Haven,  Conn.,  parties  of  the  second  part. 

Witncsseth :  That  the  party  of  the  first  part  for  and  in  consideration 
of  a  certain  sum  hereinafter  mentioned  to  be  paid  to  him,  by  the  parties 
of  the  second  part,  hereby  covenants  and  agrees  to  furnish  all  the  tools 
and  facilities,  and  do  all  the  labor  necessary  to  execute  the  iron  work  of 
an  Iron  Battery  Hull  (it  being  understood  that  the  new  ship  house  now 
being  erected  is  at  the  expense  of  the  parties  of  the  second  part),  said 
battery  to  be  constructed  from  the  plans  and  directions  which  have 
been  or  may  be  furnished  the  said  party  of  the  first  part,  by  Captain 
Ericsson. 

The  party  of  the  first  part  hereby  further  agrees  to  do  the  said  work 
in  a  thorough  and  workmanlike  manner,  and  to  the  entire  satisfaction 
of  Captain  Ericsson,  in  the  shortest  possible  space  of  time.  And  the 
party  of  the  first  part  agrees  to  launch  said  battery  safely  and  at  his 
own  risk  and  cost  on  the  East  River,  then  and  there  delivering  her  to 
the  parties  of  the  second  part. 

It  is  also  understood  that  in  consideration  of  the  liberal  price  herein- 
after stipulated  to  be  paid  by  the  party  of  the  second  part,  that  in  case 
the  work  is  not  prosecuted  with  all  the  vigor  and  energy  practicable, 
then  and  in  that  case  Captain  Ericsson  is  hereby  empowered  to  instruct 
the  party  of  the  first  part  to  employ  a  greater  number  of  men  or  to 
work  a  greater  number  of  hours,  and  which  instruction  the  party  of  the 
first  part  hereby  agrees  to  comply  with  in  order  that  the  work  may  be 
completed  in  the  shortest  possible  space  of  time,  as  contemplated  by 
his  agreement. 

The  party  of  the  second  part  hereby  agrees  to  furnish  all  the  mate- 
rial for  the  construction  of  said  battery,  delivering  the  same  at  the 
"  Continental  Iron  Works "  as  soon  as  practicable,  after  receiving  a 
specification  of  the  materials  required  for  the  construction  of  said 
battery. 

In  consideration  of  the  full  and  faithful  performance  of  these  presents 
by  the  party  of  the  first  part,  the  parties  of  the  second  part  hereby 
covenant  and  agree  to  pay  the  party  of  the  first  part  the  sum  of  seven 
and  one-half  cents  per  pound  (net  weight)  of  iron  used  in  the  construc- 
tion of  said  hull  by  the  party  of  the  first  part. 


8 

Payments  to  be  made  weekly  in  proportion  to  the  progress  of  the 
work  ;  the  balance  remaining  to  be  paid  when  the  hull  is  launched. 

The  parties  to  this  instrument  hereby  mutually  agree,  that  should 
any  alterations  in  the  plan  furnished  by  Captain  Ericsson  be  desired 
after,  the  same  have  been  executed,  the  party  of  the  first  part  shall  make 
any  alterations  that  may  be  deemed  desirable  by  Captain  Ericsson  at 
the  expense  of  the  parties  of  the  second  part. 

Witness,  the  hands  and  seals  of  the  said  parties  the  day  and  year 
before  written. 

Witness  to  the  signature  of  J.  -\ 

Ericsson,  I          J-  ERICSSON.  [L.  s.] 

C.  W.  M^CORD.      j 


Witness  to  the  signatures  of  J.  \  J.  F.  WINSLOW.  [L.  s.] 

F.  Winslow  and  J.  A.  Griswold,      V 

F.  Eus.      j  JNO.  A.  GRISWOLD.  [L.  s.] 

Witness  to  the  signature  of  T.  \ 

F.  Rowland,  T.  F.  ROWLAND.       [L.  s.] 

WARREN  E.  HILL.      J 

The  above  contract  with  Mr.  Rowland  was  based  on  one 
previously  made  by  Messrs.  Ericsson,  Griswold,  Winslow  and 
Bushnell  with  the  United  States  Government. 

The  hull  of  the  "  Monitor  "  was  built  by  Mr.  Rowland,  from 
Capt.  Ericsson's  drawings  and  under  his  personal  supervision, 
the  materials  (plates,  bars,  rivets,  etc.)  being  furnished  by  his 
associates,  Messrs.  Griswold,  Winslow  and  Bushnell.  The  turret 
was  built  at  the  Novelty  Iron  Works,  according  to  his  plans  and 
under  his  supervision,  with  plates,  rivets,  etc.,  furnished  by  his 
associates.  Being  too  heavy  for  transportation,  it  was  taken 
down  and  placed  in  sections  on  the  deck  of  a  vessel,  Mr. 
Rowland's  men  being  employed  to  rivet  the  plates.  The 
"port-stoppers"  of  the  "Monitor"  were  made  at  the.  Steam 
Forge  of  Mr.  Charles  D.  DeLaney,  here,  in  Buffalo.  They  were 
made  of  heavy  hammered  wrought  iron.  After  the  guns  were 
discharged  and  ran  back  into  the  turret,  the  "  stoppers  "  swung 
over  the  port-holes  of  the  turret,  so  as  to  prevent  any  shot 
from  an  enemy's  ship  from  entering  the  port.  The  closing, 
regulated  by  machinery,  was  instantaneous,  and  that  side  of 
the  turret  swung  away  from  the  enemy  ;  guns  loaded,  and 


again  swung,  and  guns  discharged,  so  that  the  ports  were  con- 
stantly protected,  either  by  the  guns  obtruding  or  by  the  ports 
closed  by  the  "  stoppers." 

Mr.  DeLaney  did  a  good  deal  of  forging  work  for  the 
Monitors  subsequently  built,  obtained  through  Mr.  Allan  C. 
Stimers,  Chief  Engineer  U.  S.  N.,  who  had  supervision  of  many 
of  them. 

The  entire  internal  mechanism  of  the  turret  was  built  to  t 
Captain  Ericsson's  working  plans,  at  the  Delamater  Iron 
Works,  and  put  in  place  by  Delamater's  machinists.  The 
steam  machinery,  boilers,  propellers,  etc,  also  designed  by 
him,  were  likewise  built  at  the  Delamater  Iron  Works  and 
put  on  board  the  vessel  by  Delamater's  machinists.  The 
wooden  deck  beams,  side  armor,  timbers  and  decks  were  put 
up  by  Mr.  Rowland,  and  the  entire  deck  plating  and  side 
armor  (furnished  by  Ericsson's  associates)  were  attached  by 
Rowland's  men. 

The  mode  of  launching  was  planned  by  Mr.  Rowland,  evinc- 
ing his  great  skill  and  experience.  To  prevent  the  vessel,  when 
fully  equipped  with  machinery,  turret  and  armor,  from  plunging 
under  water,  Mr.  Rowland  constructed  large  wooden  tanks, 
securing  them  under  the  stern.  The  launch,  effected  under  his 
supervision,  proved  very  successful. 

Extraordinary  diligence  was  displayed  alike  by  Mr.  Rowland, 
Mr.  Delamater  and  the  Novelty  Iron  Works.  They  all  received 
payments  in  cash  as  the  work  progressed.  The  result  of  their 
joint  efforts  was  that,  within  one  hundred  days  from  laying  the 
keel  plates  of  the  hull,  the  whole  work  was  completed  and  the 
engines  of  the  vessel  put  in  motion  under  steam  ;  probably  the 
most  expeditious  work  recorded  in  the  annals  of  mechanical 
engineering. 

The  "  Monitor "  was  launched  on  the  3Oth  day  of  January, 
1862,  and  her  first  trial  trip  and  delivery  to  the  Navy  Yard 
was  on  February  iQth,  1862.  She  had  two  trial  trips  after- 
wards, but  was  not  in  commission  on  her  first  trial  trip,  nor  for 
some  time — perhaps  a  week — afterwards.  Captain  Ericsson 


10 

attended  that  trip.  The  vessel  did  not  then  attain  the  speed 
she  did  afterwards,  because  the  cut-off  valves  had  been  set  for 
running  the  engines  backward,  and  would  not  admit  the  steam 
properly  to  the  cylinders  when  going  ahead.  On  the  second 
trial  trip,  she  was  in  commission  under  command  of  Lieut. 
Worden  ;  but  she  could  not  be  steered,  and  went  no  farther 
than  the  foot  of  Wall  Street,  New  York.  On  the  third  trial 
trip,  which  occurred  about  March  4th,  she  went  down  to 
Sandy  Hook  and  tried  her  guns,  having  a  board  of  officers, 
consisting  of  Commodore  Gregory,  Chief  Engineer  Garvin  and 
Constructor  Hart,  wlfo  reported  favorably  of  her  performance. 

It  should  be  stated  here  that  when  Captain  Ericsson  signed 
the  contract  with  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  to  furnish  the 
turreted  vessel  (scarcely  a  week  before  laying  the  keel  plates) 
he  had  completed  only  a  small  portion  of  the  working  draw- 
ings. Accordingly  he  had  to  make  these  during  the  stipulated 
one  hundred  days,  preparing  his  plans  and  giving  daily  super- 
vision to  the  work.  His  contract  with  the  Government  con- 
tained a  distinct  proviso  that  the  entire  structure  should  prove 
successful  in  practical'  operation,  befoi;e  the  final  payment ; 
and  in  case  of  failure,  himself  and  associates  were  liable  to  the 
Government  for  the  entire  amount  advanced  to  them. 

At  this  point  it  may  be  proper  to  state  the  origin  of  my 
interest  in,  and  acquaintance  with,  "  The  First  Monitor."  A 
sailor  in  my  early  boyhood,  and  having  been  subsequently, 
in  one  way  or  another,  always  connected  with  ships  and  vessels, 
it  has  ever  been  my  pleasure  to  examine,  when  in  seaport 
towns,  everything  relating  to  ships  and  ship  building.  It  has 
been  my  custom  for  many  years,  on  my  visits  to  New  York 
City,  to  walk  along  the  docks  and  to  go  into  the  ship-yards 
of  that  great  commercial  city.  Walking  down  Twenty-third 
street  one  morning  in  the  Winter  of  1861-2,  striking  the  East 
River  and  crossing  over  on  the  ferry-boat,  a  few  minutes 
brought  me  to  the  Continental  Iron  Works,  and  without  any 
knowledge  of  what  was  to  be  seen  in  the  yard,  I  came  upon 
what  was  afterwards  known  as  the  "  Monitor,"  a  name  that 


II 

was  destined  to  electrify  not  only  the  American  people  but 
the  whole  civilized  world.  Before  me  were  the  first  forgings 
of  the  iron  foundation  of  this  wonderful  ship.  That  exami- 
nation only  stimulated  me  with  a  desire  to  know  more  of 
her,  as  the  work  progressed.  My  visits  were  so  frequent,  and 
my  attention  so  close,  that  it  excited  the  curiosity  of  one 
person,  who  was  always  there  when  I  was.  We  were  strangers, 
but  one  day  he  asked  me  my  name,  and  my  business  there 
so  often.  In  turn,  Yankee  like,  I  asked  him  the  same  ques- 
tion, and  thus  became  acquainted  with  Thomas  F.  Rowland, 
proprietor  of  the  Continental  Iron  Works,  and  builder  of  the 
first  "  Monitor." 

And  this  was  the  way  that  he  became  the  builder :  The 
Continental  Iron  Works  had  been  leased  to  two  young  men 
who  had  not  made  a  success  of  the  business,  and  one  of  whom 
was  young  Tom  Rowland.  The  firm  had  been  dissolved,  and 
Rowland  was  asked  by  the  kind-hearted  owner,  who  wished  to 
aid  and  encourage  him,  to  take  the  Works  and  run  them  a  year 
and  see  what  he  could  make  out  of  them.  There  he  was,  young 
Master  Rowland,  ready  for  work,  and  waiting  like  Micawber  for 
something  to  turn  up,  when,  one  day,  some  gentlemen  came 
into  his  Works  looking  around  "  to  see  what  they  could  see," 
and,  meeting  Rowland,  asked  him  what  he  would  charge  them 
a  pound  to  build  an  iron  ship,  describing  what  they  wanted 
as  best  they  could.  Rowland,  who  had  never  thought  of  the 
subject  before,  asked  them  what  they  expected  to  get  it  done 
for.  His  idea  was  to  draw  them  out,  to  learn  something  of 
what  was  wanted  and  the  price  to  be  paid.  After  an  inter- 
change of  views  in  this  way,  the  strangers  gave  "  four  or  four- 
and-a-half  cents  per  pound  "  as  the  utmost  price  ;  they  separated, 
neither  party  much  the  wiser  for  the  interview.  Those  gentle- 
men were  Messrs.  Winslow  and  Griswold  of  Troy,  and  Mr. 
Bushnell  of  New  Haven  (whose  names  appear  in  the  con- 
tract), self-made  men,  by  honest,  persistent,  well-directed  effort. 
Rich  in  this  world's  goods,  but  richer  still  in  their  great  and 
noble  natures,  they  wished  to  aid  the  great  Ericsson  with  his 


12 

invention,  and  were  filled  with  patriotic  anxiety  for  their 
country  in  her  darkest  hour,  when  she  needed  all  possible 
aid  to  avert  the  impending  downfall  and  ruin  threatened  by 
fratricidal  strife.  These  were  the  men  who  furnished  the 
means  to  build  "the  first  Monitor." 

Now  let  us  look  at  another  scene  :  In  a  room  in  New  York 
City,  with  head  and  body  bent  over  a  drawing-table,  surrounded 
by  his  papers  and  professional  implements,  was  another  person, 
the  great  Swede,  Ericsson,  plodding  over  his  day  and  night 
dream,  this  iron-turreted  Monitor ;  the  man  who  first  conceived 
the  idea  of  building  an  iron-clad  armored  fighting  ship  of  war 
that  would  be  invulnerable.  That  Ericsson  alone  did  this,  long 
before  it  entered  the  head  of  any  other  person,  is  a  fact  well 
known  to  the  civilized  world. 

The  day  following  the  visit  of  Messrs.  Griswold,  Winslow 
and  Bushnell  to  Green  Point,  a  message  from  the  great  naval 
architect,  to  whom  the  talent  and  ability  of  Tom  Rowland  was 
not  unknown,  brought  him  into  Ericsson's  presence  at  the 
latter's  office.  Just  raising  his  head  from  the  table,  and 
casting  his  eye  towards  the  door  to  know  his  visitor,  and 
resuming  his  labor  on  the  instant,  not  losing  a  moment  from 
his  great  task,  Ericsson  said  :  "  Tom,  my  boy,  what  are  you 
going  to  charge  me  to  build  my  iron  ship  ? "  Thinking  of  his 
interview  of  yesterday  with  the  other  parties,  Tom  answers  at 
a  venture,  "  Nine  cents  a  pound."  "  Tut,  tut,  Tom  !  "  cried 
Ericsson,  his  brain  and  hands  still  working  on  the  problem 
before  him,  "  it  must  be  done  for  seven-and-a-half  cents."  And 
the  trade  was  closed  at  that  figure. 

Now,  gentlemen,  here  they  are  before  you,  the  men  who 
created  this  iron  ship  of  war :  Ericsson  the  inventor ;  Griswold, 
Winslow  and  Bushnell  who  furnished  the  means  ;  with  Rowland 
the  builder :  a  ship  of  iron  impregnability,  that  was  to  change 
the  system  of  the  naval  warfare  of  the  world.  Let  us  here 
pause  a  moment  to  dwell  on  the  foremost  character. 

John  Ericsson  was  born  in  the  Province  of  Vermland,  in  Swe- 
den, on  July  3  ist,  1803.  Entered  the  Corps  of  Engineers  of  the 


13 

Royal  Swedish  Navy  in  1815,  as  cadet.  In  1819  he  entered 
the  Swedish  Army  and  served  under  Bernadotte  (Charles  XIV.) 
during  eight  years,  resigning  his  commission  with  the  rank  of 
Captain  in  1827.  Captain  Ericsson  is  Chevalier  of  the  Swedish 
Order  of  Vasa,  and  Knight  Commander  with  the  Grand  Cross. 
He  is  Knight  Commander  of  the  Norwegian  Order  of  Sanet 
Olaf,  Knight  Commander  of  the  Danish  Order  of  Dannebrog, 
first  class,  and  Knight  Commander  of  the  Spanish  Order  of 
Isabella  Catolica.  He  has  also  received  the  Rumford  Medal, 
the  great  Gold  Medal  of  the  Mechanics'  Institute  of  New  York, 
the  Medal  of  the  Society  of  Arts  in  London,  and  several  prize 
medals  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic.  He  is  Doctor  of  Philoso- 
phy of  the  Royal  University  of  Lund,  in  Sweden,  Member  of 
the  Royal  Academy  of  Sciences  at  Stockholm,  Honorary  Mem- ' 
ber  of  the  Royal  Academy  of  Military  Sciences  of  Sweden,  and 
member  of  many  other  scientific  bodies  in  this  country  and  in 
Europe,  having  likewise  received  the  distinction  of  LL.D.  from 
an  American  University. 

For  a  while  previous  to  1839,  Captain  Ericsson  was  superin- 
tending Engineer  in  London  of  the  Eastern  Counties  Railway, 
one  of  the  principal  lines  centering  in  the  British  metropolis. 
He  resigned  that  position  and  came  to  America  under  an 
arrangement  with  certain  parties  in  this  country  to  plan  and 
superintend  the  construction  of  the  machinery  and  armament 
of  the  U.  S.  steamship  "  Princeton."  He  landed  at  New  York 
November  23d,  1839.  His  history  for  many  years  past  is  so 
well  known,  that  it  is  needless  here  to  recapitulate  the  details. 
For  some  time  previous  to  1854  his  mind  had  dwelt  upon  the 
idea  of  planning  and  constructing  an  iron-plated  shot-proof  ship 
of  war,  and  on  the  26th  of  September,  1854,  Captain  Ericsson 
forwarded  from  New  York  to  the  Emperor  Napoleon  III.  a 
plan  of  such  a  ship,  with  the  following  synopsis  of  his  plans, 
showing  conclusively,  beyond  all  cavil,  that  America  was  the 
birth-place  of  the  Monitor,  and  that  John  Ericsson  was  its  sole 
inventor : 


14 

EXTRACT. 

NEW  SYSTEM  OF  NAVAL  ATTACK. — The  vessel  to  be  composed 
entirely7  of  iron.  The  midship  section  is  triangular,  with  a  broad, 
hollow  keel,  loaded  to  balance  the  heavy  upper  works.  The  ends  of 
the  vessel  are  moderately  sharp.  The  deck,  made  of  plate  iron,  is 
curved  both  longitudinally  and  transversely  with  a  spring  of  five  feet ; 
it  is  made  to  project  eight  feet  over  the  rudder  and  propeller.  The 
entire  deck  is  covered  with  a  lining  of  sheet  iron,  three  inches  thick, 
with  an  opening  in  the  center  sixteen  feet  diameter.  This  opening  is 
covered  by  a  senn-jlobular  turret  of  plate  iron,  six  inches  thick,  revolv- 
ing on  a  column  and  pivot  by  means  of  steam  power  and  appropriate 
gear  work.  The  vessel  is  propelled  by  a  powerful  steam  engine,  and 
screw  propeller.  { Air  for  the  combustion  in  the  boilers,  and  for  ventilation 
within  th$  vessel,  is  supplied  by  a  large  self-acting  centrifugal  blower, 
,the  fresh  air  being  drawn  in  through  numerous  small  holes  in  the  turret. 
The  products  of  the  combustion  and  impure  air  from  the  vessel  is  forced 
out  through  conductors  leading  to  a  cluster  of  small  holes  in  the  deck 
and  turret.  Surrounding  objects  are  viewed  through  small  holes  at 
appropriate  places.  Reflecting  telescopes,  capable  of  being  protruded 
or  withdrawn  at  pleasure,  also  afford  a  distinct  view  of  surrounding 
ob~jects7~  The  rudder  stock  passes  through  a  water-tight  stuffing  box,  so 
as  to  admit  of  the  helm  being  worked  within  the  vessel.  Shot  striking 
the  deck  are  deflected,  whilst  shell  exploding  on  it  will  prove  harmless. 
Shot  (of  cast  iron)  striking  the  globular  turret  will  crumble  to  pieces  or 
are  deflected.  This  new  system  of  naval  attack  will  place  an  entire  fleet  of 
sailing  ships,  during  calms  and  light  winds,  at  the  mercy  of  a  single  craft/' 
J~Bbarding  as  a  means  of  defence,  will  be  impracticable,  since  the 
turret  guns,  which  turn  like  the  spokes  in  a  wheel,  commanding  every 
point  of  the  compass  at  once,  may  keep  off  and  destroy  any  number  of 
boats  by  firing  slugs  and  combustibles. 

A  fleet  at  anchor  might  be  fired  and  put  in  a  sinking  condition  before 
enabled  to  get  under  way.  Of  what  avail  would  be  the  ''  Stearn  Guard 
Ships  "  if  attacked  on  the  new  system  ?  Alas,  for  the  "  wooden  walls  " 
that  formerly  ruled  the  waves  ! 

The  long  range  Lancaster  gun  would  scarcely  hit  the  revolving  iron 
turret  once  in  six  hours,  and  then,  six  chances  to  one,  its  shot  or  shell 
would  be  deflected  by  the  varying  angles  of  the  face  of  the  impregnable 
globe.  When  ultimately  struck  at  right  angles,  the  globe,  which  weighs 
upwards  of  forty  tons,  will  be  less  affected  by  the  shock  than  a  heavy 
anvil  by  the  blow  of  a  light  hammer ;  consequently,  the  shot  would 

*How  prophetic  ! — E.  P.  D. 


i6 

The  iron-clad  intruder  will  thus  prove  a  severe  monitor  to  those 
leaders.  But  there  are  other  leaders  who  will  also  be  startled  and 
admonished  by  the  booming  of  the  guns  from  the  impregnable  iron 
turret.  "  Downing  Street  "  will  hardly  view  with  indifference  this  last 
"  Yankee  notion,"  this  monitor.  To  the  Lords  of  the  Admiralty  the  new 
craft  will  be  a  monitor,  suggesting  doubts  as  to  the  propriety  of  com- 
pleting those  four  steel-clad  ships  at  three-and-a-half  millions  a  piece. 

On  these  and  many  similar  grounds  I  propose  to  name  the  new 

battery  "  Monitor." 

Your  obedient  servant,  J.  ERICSSON. 

To  GUSTAVUS  V.  Fox,  Ass't  Sec'y  of  the  Navy. 

The  "Monitor"  was  wanted  quickly;  there  was  not  a  minute  to 
lose.  All  the  force  that  could  work  on  her  was  employed  ;  night 
and  day  the  work  was  driven.  The  plans  and  designs  were 
worked  up  and  applied  as  fast  as  the  material  could  be  procured 
and  formed.  Not  a  moment  too  soon  was  she  completed  and 
hurried  off.  After  two  very  slight  trial  trips  to  sea,  she  was  on 
her  great  mission  to  Fortress  Monroe,  in  which  vicinity  she  was 
so  much  needed. 

The  manning  of  the  "  Monitor  "  with  her  crew  was,  to  me,  one 
of  the  most  interesting  events  connected  with  this  wonderful 
craft.  Here  was  a  hitherto  unknown  and  untried  vessel,  with 
all  but  a  small  portion  of  her  below  the  water, — not  floating 
upon  the  water  as  other  vessels  were  supposed  to  do,  but  nearly 
submerged, — her  crew  to  live,  if  live  they  could,  below  the  sur- 
face ;  the  ocean  beating  with  its  wild  and  restless  waves  right 
over  their  heads.  There  was  something  calmly  and  terribly 
heroic  in  the  act  of  manning  this  iron  coffin-like  ship.  Let  me 
give  you  the  history  of  furnishing  her  with  a  crew. 

Lieutenant  Worden,  U.  S.  N.,  was  ordered  to  command  her. 
When  she  was  nearly  ready  for  commission,  he  was  authorized 
by  the  Navy  Department  to  select  a  crew  from  the  receiving 
ship  "  North  Carolina,"  or  any  other  vessel  of  war  in  the  harbor  of 
New  York.  Under  that  authority  he  asked  for  volunteers  from 
the  "  North  Carolina  "  and  frigate  "  Sabine."  After  stating  fully 
to  the  crews  of  these  vessels  the  probable  dangers  of  the  passage 
to  Hampton  Roads,  and  the  certainty  of  having  important 


crumble  to  pieces,  whilst  the  shell  would  strew  the  arched  deck  with 
harmless  fragments. 

During  contest  the  revolving  turret  should  be  kept  in  motion,  the 
port-holes  being  turned  away  from  the  opponent,  except  at  the  moment 
of  discharge,  which,  however,  should  be  made  during  full  rotation,  as 
the  lateral  aim  in  close  quarters  requires  but  little  precision. 

I  would  call  your  attention  to  the  framed  copy  of  the  above 
described  Ericsson's  model  of  1854.  And  please  note  how  well 
the  "  Monitor "  at  Hampton  Roads  filled  the  predictions  put 
forth  at  this  time  by  Captain  Ericsson  ! 

Ericsson's  letter  was  at  once  acknowledged  by  the  Emperor, 
but,  luckily,  for  America,  Napoleon  did  not  embrace  the  oppor- 
tunity of  adopting  for  France,  what,  at  a  later  day,  at  a  most 
opportune  moment,  the  great  naval  architect  had  the  pleasure  to 
first  construct  and  put  in  use  for  the  protection  of  his  adopted 
country.  All  honor  to  the  name  of  Ericsson  !  He  will  be 
remembered  with  gratitude  in  all  coming  time.  In  all  naval 
history  his  name  will  be  known  as  that  of  the  greatest  inventor 
and  reformer  in  naval  warfare  that  ever  lived. 

The  trials  and  troubles  Mr.  Ericsson  experienced,  even  with 
the  aid  of  Bushnell,  Winslow  and  Griswold,  to  get  his  "  Monitor" 
adopted  by  the  Government,  no  one  but  himself  and  associates 
can  ever  know.  But  by  the  individual,  persevering  efforts  of  the 
great  inventor,  with  the  assistance  of  these  good  friends,  and 
guided  by  the  great  Director  of  all  things,  it  was  finally  accom- 
plished, just  in  time  to  save  this  nation. 

Now  I  will  give  you  the  promised  letter,  explaining  why 
Ericsson  gave  his  ship  the  name  "  Monitor." 

(COPY.) 

NEW  YORK,  Jan.  aoth,  1862. 

SIR, — In  accordance  with  your  request,  I  now  submit  for  your 
approbation  a  name  for  the  floating  battery  at  Green  Point. 

The  impregnable  and  aggressive  character  of  this  structure  will 
admonish  the  leaders  of  the  Southern  Rebellion  that  the  batteries  on 
the  banks  of  their  rivers  will  no  longer  present  barriers  to  the  entrance 
of  the  Union  forces. 


services  to  perform  there,  he  had  many  more  volunteers  than 
was  required.  From  them  he  selected  a  crew,  and  a  better  one, 
he  said,  no  naval  commander  ever  had  the  honor  to  command. 

History  ought  to  preserve  the  names  of  the  gallant  men  who 
voluntarily  stepped  out,  and  asked  to  be  permitted  to  serve 
their  country  in  her  hour  of  greatest  need,  by  going  on  board 
— no !  not  "  on  board  "  ship,  as  it  is  usually  termed,  but  into 
this  almost  hermetically-sealed  unknown  ship,  shut  out  from  the 
light  of  God's  sun  and  from  the  air  above  the  sea,  depending 
entirely  upon  artificial  means  to  supply  the  air  to  breathe,  to 
sustain  life.  A  failure  of  the  machinery  to  do  this  when  in 
rough  water  was  almost  certain  and  speedy  death.  You  will 
see  how  near  it  came  to  that,  on  her  first  passage  from  New 
York. 

In  the  sinking  of  the  English  troop  ship  off  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  we  read  what  discipline  and  training  will  do  with  brave 
men  in  imminent  peril,  when  facing  apparent  instant  death.  The 
men  were  ordered  to  "fall  in,"  stepping  out  in  full  dress,  arms  in 
hand,  forming  in  line  as  though  at  dress  parade  upon  the  deck 
of  the  sinking  ship,  going  down  at  their  posts  without  breaking 
ranks.  And  we  read  of  the  gallant  sentry  on  the  sinking 
"  Oneida,"  who  would  not  leave  his  post  until  the  order  came 
from  the  corporal  relieving  him.  No  order  came,  and  he  went 
down  with  the  ship,  sacrificing  his  life  to  discipline-  and  duty. 

History  furnishes  many  similar  cases  of  heroic  men,  who  have 
deemed  the  higher  order  of  duty  and  self-sacrificing  principle 
superior  to  their  love  of  life.  But  to  me,  these  men,,  comfor- 
tably housed  on  the  receiving  ship,  volunteering  for  this  special 
dangerous  and  unknown  service,  afford  an  example  of  patriotic 
devotion  far  superior  to  the  above  cases. 

For  the  officers  that  manned  the  "  Monitor"  let  me  say  :  they 
showed  what  routine  discipline,  as  taught  in  our  National  Naval 
School,  will  do  for  the  Navy ;  just  as  West  Point  has  done 
for  the  Army.  (I  say  this  without  a  word  of  disparagement 
or  detraction  of  services  of  our  gallant  volunteers  of  the  Navy 
or  Army.)  Their  action  teaches  us  that  knowledge  is  power. 
They  go  where  duty  calls  them,  quietly,  without  a  murmur. 


18 

The  whole  record  of  the  Rebellion,  on  both  sides,  is  full  of  a 
perfect  vindication  of  the  great  value  of  both  of  these  cherished 
institutions. 

Lieutenant  Worden  was  ordered  to  command  the  "Monitor" 
on  January  I3th,  1862,  when  she  was  still  on  the  stocks.  Prior 
to  that  date,  Lieutenant  S.  D.  Greene  had  interested  himself  in 
her,  and  thoroughly  examined  her  construction,  design,  and 
qualities.  Notwithstanding  the  many  gloomy  predictions  of 
naval  officers,  and  officers  of  the  mercantile  marine,  as  to  the 
great  probability  of  her  sinking  at  sea,  Greene  volunteered  to 
go  in  her,  and,  at  Worden's  request,  he  was  directed  to  do  so. 
From  the  date  of  his  orders  he  applied  himself  unremittingly 
and  intelligently  to  the  study  of  the  "  Monitor's "  peculiar 
requirements,  and  to  her  fitting  and  equipment.  She  was  put 
in  commission  early  in  February,  1862,  and  from  that  time  until 
her  day  of  sailing,  Commander  Worden,  Lieutenant  Greene 
and  all  the  officers  and  crew  displayed  untiring  energy  and  zeal 
in  getting  her  ready,  and  in  the  conduct  of  the  several  trials  of 
her  engines,  turret  machinery,  etc.  The  "  Monitor"  was  finished 
on  February  2Oth,  1862,  and  Commander  Worden  received  his 
sailing  orders  as  follows  : 

ORDERS  FOR  THE  "MONITOR"  TO  PROCEED  TO  HAMPTON  ROADS,  VA. 

»' 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  February  zoth,  1862. 

SIR, — Proceed  with  the  U.  S.  steamer  "Monitor"  under  your  com- 
mand to  Hampton  Roads,  Va.,  and  on  your  arrival  there,  report  by 
letter  to  the  Department. 

Commodore  Paulding  has  been  instructed  to  charter  a  vessel  to 
accompany  the  "  Monitor,"  provided  none  of  our  vessels  are  going 
South  about  the  time  she  sails. 

Transmit  to  the  Department  a  muster  roll  of  the  crew  and  a  separate 
list  of  the  officers  of  the  "  Monitor,"  before  sailing  from  New  York. 
I  am  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

(Signed)          ,     GIDEON  WELLES. 
To  Lieut.  JOHN  L.  WORDEN,  U.  S.  "N., 

Commanding  U.  S.  Iron  Clad  Steamer  "  Monitor,"  New  York. 

He  hastened  with  all  due  diligence  to  get  ready,  but  some- 
thing about  the  steering  apparatus,  and  other  matters,  detained 


19 

him  from  going  to  sea  for  some  days.  On  the  4th  of  March,  he 
received  orders  from  the  officer  commanding  the  Navy  Yard  at 
New  York,  which  read  as  follows  : 

NAVY  YARD,  NEW  YORK,  March  4th,  1862. 
Lieut.  Commanding  JOHN  L.  WORDEN,  U.  S.  Sir.  "Monitor:" 

SIR, — When  the  weather  permits,  you  will  proceed  with  the  "  Mon- 
itor" under  your  command  to  Hampton  Roads,  and  on  your  arrival 
report  to  the  Senior  Naval  Officer  there. 

I  have  hired  the  steamer  "  James  Freeborn  "  to  tow  the  "  Monitor," 
and  have  also  directed  the  propellers  "Sachem"  and  "Currituck"  to 
attend  on  you  to  the  mouth  of  the  Chesapeake.  If  it  should  be 
necessary  to  retain  them  longer,  you  are  authorized  to  do  so. 

When  you  shall  have  no  further  use  or  occasion  for  the  "  Freeborn," 
be  pleased  to  give  the  Captain  a  certificate,  with  directions  to  return 
to  New  York,  and  immediately  on  his  arrival  report  to  me. 
Wishing  you  a  safe  and  successful  passage, 

I  am,  respectfully,  your  ob'd't  servant, 

H.  PAULDING, 

Commander. 

The  "Monitor"  left  the  Lower  Bay  of  New  York  on  the  after- 
noon of  the  6th  day  of  March,  1862,  with  a  moderate  wind  from 
the  westward  and  smooth  sea,  in  tow  of  a  small  tug,  the  "  Seth 
Low,"  and  accompanied  by  the  U.  S.  steamers  "Currituck"  and 
"  Sachem."  About  mid-day  of  the  /th,  the  wind  had  freshened 
to  a  strong  breeze,  causing,  in  their  then  position  off  the  Capes 
of  the  Delaware,  a  rough  sea,  which  broke  constantly  and 
violently  over  her  decks,  and  forcing  the  water  in  considerable 
quantities  into  the  vessel,  through  the  hawse-pipes,  under  the 
turret,  and  in  various  other  places.  About  four  o'clock  P.  M., 
the  wind  and  sea  still  increasing,  the  water  broke  over  the  smoke 
and  blower  pipes  (the  former  six  feet  and  the  latter  four  feet 
high),  which,  wetting  the  blower  bands,  caused  them  to  slip  and 
finally  to  break.  The  blowers  being  thus  stopped,  there  was  no 
draft  for  the  furnaces,  and  the  engine  and  fire  rooms  became 
immediately  filled  with  gas.  The  senior  engineer,  Mr.  Isaac 
Newton,  and  his  assistants,  met  the  emergency  with  great  deter- 
mination, but  were  unable  to  stand  the  gas,  which  in  a  very  short 
time  prostrated  them,  apparently  lifeless,  upon  the  floor  of  the 


20 

engine-room,  from  which  they  were  rescued  and  carried  to  the 
top  of  the  turret,  where  they  finally  revived. 

With  the  motive  power  thus  useless  for  propulsion  or  for  pump- 
ing, the  water,  which  was  entering  the  vessel  in  many  places,  was 
increasing  rapidly.  The  hand  pumps 'were  used,  and  men  set 
to  work  bailing,  but  with  little  effect.  The  tug-boat  having  the 
"  Monitor "  in  tow  was  ordered  to  head  directly  in  shore ;  but 
being  light  and  of  moderate  power,  she  could  move  the  "  Moni- 
tor" but  slowly  against  wind  and  sea.  Between  seven  and  eight 
o'clock,  however,  they  got  into  smoother  water,  and  were  enabled 
to  so  far  clear  the  engine-room  of  gas  as  to  permit  the  blower 
bands  to  be  repaired  and  the  blower  to  be  set  in  motion.  By 
eight  o'clock  they  were  on  their  course  again,  with  the  engines 
going  slowly,  in  a  comparatively  smooth  sea.  This  lasted  until 
shortly  after  midnight,  when,  in  crossing  a  shoal,  the  sea  suddenly 
became  rough  again,  broke  violently  over  the  deck,  causing  fears 
of  another  disaster  to  the  blowers.  The  wheel  ropes  too  became 
jammed,  and  for  half  an  hour,  until,  it  was  cleared,  the  vessel 
yawed  unmanageably,  seriously  endangering  the  towing-hawser, 
which  fortunately  held,  and  in  a  short  time  they  were  clear  of 
the  shoal  and  in  smooth  water  again. 

From  this  time  no  further  serious  mishap  occurred.  About 
four  o'clock  P.  M.  of  Saturday,  March  8th,  they  passed  Cape 
Henry  light,  and  soon  after  heard  heavy  firing  in  the  direction 
of  Fortress  Monroe,  indicating  an  engagement,  which  they 
rightly  concluded  to  be  with  the  "  Merrimac,"  as  they  had  been 
informed  of  her  preparation  to  get  to  sea. 

Lieutenant  Worden  immediately  ordered  the  vessel  to  be 
stripped  of  her  sea  rig,  the  turret  to  be  keyed  up,  and  in  every 
way  to  be  prepared  for  action.  About  midway  between  Cape 
Henry  and  Fortress  Monroe,  a  pilot  boat  came  along  and  gave 
them  a  pilot,  from  whom  they  learned  of  the  advent  of  the 
"  Merrimac,"  the  disaster  to  the  ships  "  Cumberland "  and 
"  Congress,"  and  the  generally  gloomy  condition  of  affairs  in 
Hampton  Roads. 

At  this  point  let  me  give  you  a  history  of  the  destruction  of 
the  U.  S.  ships  "Cumberland"  and  "Congress"  by  the  rebel 


21 

ram  "  Merrimac,"  on  the  8th  day  of  March,  1862.  The  ships  lay 
about  one-quarter  of  a  mile  apart,  and  as  far  from  the  shore  ofif 
Newport  News,  at  anchor.  On  the  Monday  previous,  Captain 
Radford  (now  Admiral),  commanding  the  "Cumberland,"  left  for 
Old  Point,  where  he  was  ordered,  as  president  of  a  court-martial, 
on  board  the  "  Roanoke."  Lieut.  Geo.  Morris,  the  Executive 
Officer,  was  left  in  command.  Imagine  the  description  as  made 
from  the  decks  of  the  "  Cumberland." 

On  Saturday,  at  eleven  o'clock  A.  M.,  March  8th,  1862,  the 
"  Merrimac"  was  reported  coming  around  the  Point  from  Norfolk. 
She  was  accompanied  by  the  "  Frazer "  and  "  Yorktown,"  two 
small  steamers  armed  with  rifled  guns.  On  the  "  Cumberland  " 
and  "  Congress  "  they  beat  to  quarters.  Their  pilot  seeing  the 
"  Merrimac  "  keep  in  close  to  the  opposite  shore,  thought  she  had 
missed  the  channel.  It  has  since  been  ascertained  that  she  found 
a  new  channel.  At  first  all  officers  were  allowed  on  the  spar  deck ; 
but  as  she  neared  them,  all  went  to  their  stations.  I  cannot 
state  the  exact  hour  at  which  the  "  Merrimac  "  opened  fire  on 
the  "  Cumberland,"  but  it  was  at  dead  slack  water,  Commander 
Buchanan  of  the  "  Merrimac"  having  chosen  that  time  to  attack, 
as  the  "Cumberland"  and  "Congress,"  being  sailing  ships,  could 
not  at  slack  water  use  springs  on  their  cables  to  present  their 
broadsides  to  the  approaching  enemy.  The  crafty  Buchanan 
well  knew  this  (his  own  brother  was  an  officer  on  one  of  the 
Union  ships),  and  he  selected  this  opportune  hour  to  attack,  bow 
on,  taking  the  "  Cumberland  "  at  the  greatest  possible  disadvan- 
tage, when  she  could  hardly  train  a  gun  to  bear  upon  her 
formidable  antagonist. 

A  small  tug,  the  "  Zouave,"  built  and  previously  used  to  tow 
boats  under  the  grain  elevator  in  the  basin  at  Albany,  N.  Y., 
had  been  detailed  to  assist  in  case  of  an  attack.  The  "Congress," 
the  senior  ship,  commanded  by  Lieut.  Joseph  Smith  temporarily 
(her  Captain — also  a  Smith — had  been  detached  the  day  before, 
but  was  on  board  at  the  time  and  acted  as  a  volunteer  in  the 
fight),  slipped  her  chains.  It  was  a  dead  calm.  She  made  fast 
to  the  "  Zouave"  and  attempted  to  meet  the  "Merrimac."  The 
"  Zouave"  broke  down,  was  cast  adrift  and  floated  away,  firing 


22 

her  small  pop-gun  at  the  "Merrimac."  The  "Congress" 
grounded.  The  "  Merrimac"  stood  for  the  "  Cumberland,"  and 
opened  fire  upon  her.  The  first  shot  killed  and  wounded  ten 
men  of  the  after  pivot  gun.  Her  second  shot  killed  and  wounded 
twelve  men  at  "the  forward  pivot  gun.  Her  two  tenders  at  the 
same  time  fired  percussion  shells  into  the  "  Cumberland."  The 
"  Merrimac"  then  rammed  her,  striking  her  on  the  starboard  bow. 

I  now  quote  in  substance  from  an  officer  on  board  the  "  Cum- 
berland "  : 

"  I  was  looking  through  the  air  port  of  the  sick  bay,  at  the 
time,  and  had  a  full  view  of  the  "  Merrimac."  She  was  like  a 
long  iron  shed  sunk  down  to  the  roof,  with  a  gun  put  in  the 
gable.  The  shock  was  not  great.  I  heard  the  stones  rattling 
in  the  gunners'  room  underneath,  and  some  of  the  bolts  in  the 
hanging  knees  were  driven  in,  and  the  water  spouted  in,  in  a  full 
stream.  Part  of  the  wounded  had  been  brought  down  and  were 
partially  dressed,  when  a  percussion  shell  came  through  the  spar 
deck  hatch,  bursting  in  the  sick  bay  immediately  under  the  spar 
deck,  killing  four  of  the  wounded  men.  By  this  time  the  ship 
was  settling  by  the  head,  and  we  moved  to  the  steerage.  It  was 
necessary  to  lift  the  wounded,  brought  down  to  the  berth  deck, 
on  to  the  big  racks  and  mess-chests,  to  save  them  from  drowning 
in  the  water,  which  was  making  very  fast. 

"  All  this  time  the  three  rebel  ships  continued  to  fire  on  us, 
and  it  was  as  warmly  returned.  Trunks  of  cartridges  were 
hoisted  on  the  gun  deck  and  opened,  the  guns  crews  kicked  off 
their  shoes,  stripped  to  their  pants,  their  heads  tied  up  with  their 
black  neck  handkerchiefs,  loaded,  fired,  yelled,  and  dragged  the 
killed  and  wounded  amidships.  There  was  no  time  for  form, 
or  to  send  them  below. 

"  In  forty-five  minutes  from  the  time  she  was  struck,  the  order 
was  given  to  leave  quarters  and  save  themselves  as  best  they 
could.  The  ship,  in  sinking,  heeled  over.  The  ladders  were 
almost  perpendicular.  The  crash  was  fearful.  As  there  is  often 
in  the  gravest  scenes  a  corner  for  the  ludicrous,  so  there  was 
in  this.  The  marine  drummer  holding  on  to  his  drum,  the 
men  pushing  him  up  behind  from  below,  landing  him  on  deck 


23 

with  it,  caused  a  laugh  at  his  expense,  desperately  as  we  were 
situated. 

"  When  the  spar  deck  was  reached,  it  inclined  like  the  roof  of 
a  house.  The  boats,  previous  to  the  action,  had  all  been  lowered 
and  made  fast  in  a  line  on  the  shore  side.  Every  one  took  to 
the  water  and  swam  for  the  boats.  While  hesitating  at  the  after 
pivot  port,  a  man  next  me  said,  'Jump!  here  comes  the  pivot 
gun.'  It  had  been  pivoted  on  the  upper  side,  and  breaking 
away,  rushed  down  in  the  water,  catching,  as  it  went,  Quarter- 
master Murray,  a  young,  active,  unwounded  man.  He  fell,  and 
the  gun  bounded  on  his  back,  like  some  fierce  animal,  breaking 
his  spine.  His  face  rose  with  an  unutterable  look  of  agony, 
which  once  seen  can  never  be  forgotten. 

"  The  ship  sunk  to  her  tops,  in  which  many  of  the  men  took 
refuge.  As  the  boats  made  for  the  shore,  the  enemy  continued  to 
shell  us,  but  we  were  below  in  the  water,  so  that  the  shell  went 
over  us.  One  of  them  knocked  to  pieces  the  end  of  the  wharf 
we  were  making  for.  On  landing,  the  soldiers  met  us  in  crowds ; 
they  hugged  and  embraced  us,  and  whiskey  flasks  were  held  to 
our  mouths,  plugs  of  tobacco  shoved  into  our  pockets,  and  they 
cried  and  cheered  and  cursed ;  and  we  were  clothed  and  com- 
forted by  them. 

"The  "Cumberland"  lost  one  hundred  and  seventeen  out  of 
three  hundred.  Fourteen  of  the  wounded  were  saved.  When 
the  order  was  given  to  leave  the  ship,  the  wounded  men,  most 
of  them  mangled  by  shell,  begged  to  be  killed  rather  than  be 
left  to  drown,  and  the  yell  of  agony  as  she  sank  was  heard  in 
the  camp  of  the  troops  on  shore.  But  she  sank  with  her  colors 
flying  ! 

"  The  last  gun  was  fired  by  a  volunteer  officer,  Lieut.  Randall, 
now  in  the  naval  service.  Lieut.  Morris  was  hailed  by  Captain 
Buchanan  of  the  "  Merrimac,"  'Do  you  surrender?'  He 
answered,  '  No,  sir  !' 

"  The  slaughter  was  terrible  among  the  marines.  They  were 
commanded  by  Lieut.  Charles  Heywood,  a  gallant  man.  There 
were  many  interesting  scenes  on  board.  A  man  dreadfully, 
hopelessly  wounded,  had  been  carried  down  to  the  cock-pit. 


24 

While  therein,  his  '  chummy,'  or  friend,  with  a  wounded  hand, 
came  to  have  it  dressed,  intending  to  return.  The  wounded 
man  said,  ^Tom,  are  you  going  to  leave  me?'  Tom  said,  'No, 
I  will  not !'  and  sat  down  on  deck,  took  his  friend's  head  in 
his  lap  and  went  down  with  him.  The  cock-pit  sentry  also  went 
down  at  his  post. 

"  Leaving  the  "Cumberland,"  the  ram  went  for  the  "Congress." 
She  was  aground  and  helpless.  Hot  shot  were  fired  into  her, 
and  she  was  soon  on  fire.  Full  of  wounded  men,  Lieut.  Smith 
killed,  the  ship  on  fire,  she  surrendered.  A  small  tender  from 
the  "  Merrimac "  went  between  her  and  the  shore,  but  the 
Zouaves  under  Col.  Lozier  with  their  rifles  picked  off  the  men  in 
the  tug,  and  she  left  without  making  a  prisoner  or  securing  the 
flag  of  the  "Congress ;"  and  then,  to  the  surprise  of  every  one, 
the  "Merrimac"  steamed  back  for  Norfolk.  She  had  left  the  ram 
in  the  "Cumberland,"  and  was  leaking  badly.  All  the  wounded 
of  the  "Congress  "  were  taken  ashore,  and  at  12.30  she  blew  up, 
the  fire  having  reached  her  magazines. 

"An  old  man,  Russell,  aged  sixty,  stationed  in  the  after 
magazine  of  the  "  Cumberland,"  went  down  with  the  ship, 
made  his  way  up  through  the  hatches  to  the  surface  and  was 
hauled  into  the  mizzen-top,  the  only  one  out  of  water.  The 
weight  rushing  forward  kept  her  head  lower  than  the  stern, 
entirely  submerging  the  fore  and  main  tops.  As  soon  as 
Captain  Radford  heard  the  firing  he  attempted  to  reach  us ; 
but  the  "Roanoke"  was  repairing  her  machinery,  the  "Minne- 
sota" aground,  and,  as  we  landed  at  Newport  News,  he  rode 
down  to  the  beach  on  a  horse  without  saddle  or  bridle, 
merely  a  halter.  He  was  ragged  and  muddy  from  falls, 
haggard  with  anxiety  and  regret ;  but  brightened  up  when 
he  was  pointed  to  the  flag  still  flying  on  his  ship !  He  was 
noted  for  complete  control  of  himself,  but  he  cried  like  a  child 
when  contemplating  the  sad  scene  before  him.  A  kinder  and 
braver  Captain  never  commanded  a  ship,  and  though  he  regret- 
ted his  own  absence,  he  approved  the  acts  of  the  gallant  Morris, 
his  officers  and  crew,  by  saying :  'It  could  not  have  been  done 
better.' " 


25 

Gentlemen,  you  have  thus  the  simple  touching  story  of  the 
sinking  and  burning  of  the  "  Cumberland  "  and  "  Congress." 
History  does  not  record  a  more  glorious  desperate  fight,  than 
was  fought  by  their  gallant  crews  on  our  side,  or  a  meaner  and 
more  despicable  one  on  the  part  of  the  enemy.  It  demonstrated 
also  the  destructive  powers  of  the  "  Merrimac." 

Sunday  morning  (the  Qth  of  March)  the  return  of  the  "  Merri- 
mac "  was  reported  in  camp  at  Newport  News,  and  also  a 
second  message,  to  the  effect  that  the  strangest-looking  craft 
was  in  sight.  She  had  been  hidden  by  the  hull  of  the  "  Minne- 
sota," which  ship  attempted  on  Saturday  to  assist  us  ;  but  was 
run  on  a  shoal  and  was  left  a  fair  target  for  the  ram,  and  it  was 
to  destroy  her  they  came  out  that  Sunday.  Then  began  the 
first  iron-clad  fight. 

We  will  again  resume  the  story  of  the  "  Monitor." 

About  nine  P.  M.  of  the  8th  of  March  she  anchored  near  the 
frigate  "  Roanoke,"  Captain  Marston  (the  senior  officer  present), 
to  whom  Lieutenant  Worden  reported,  and  who  suggested  that 
he  should  go  to  the  assistance  of  the  frigate  "  Minnesota,"  then 
aground  off  Newport  News.  Finding  difficulty  in  getting  a  pilot, 
Worden  accepted  the  services  of  Acting-Master  Samuel  Howard, 
who  earnestly  volunteered  for  that  service.  Under  his  pilotage 
the  "  Monitor  "  reached  the  "  Minnesota  "  about  half-past  eleven 
o'clock  P.  M.,  when  Worden  reported  to  Captain  Van  Brunt,  her 
commanding  officer,  and  anchored  near  the  "  Minnesota,"  at 
about  one  o'clock  Sunday  morning,  March  Qth. 

They  hoped  to  get  the  "  Minnesota "  afloat  at  high  water, 
about  two  o'clock  following,  but  failed  to  do  so.  At  daylight 
the  "  Merrimac  "  was  discovered,  with  several  consorts,  at  anchor 
under  Sewell's  Point.  Lieutenant  Worden  went  at  once  to  see 
Captain  Van  Brunt,  whose  vessel  was  still  aground,  greatly 
damaged  from  the  attack  of  the  day  before,  and  in  a  helpless 
condition.  After  a  few  minutes  conversation  with  him  relative 
to  the  situation  of  affairs,  Worden  left,  telling  Captain  Van  Brunt 
he  would  develop  all  the  qualities,  offensive  and  defensive,  pos- 
sessed by  the  battery  under  his  command,  to  protect  his  vessel 
(the  "  Minnesota  ")  from  the  attack  of  the  "  Merrimac,"  should 


26 

she  come  out  again,  and  that  he  (Worden)  had  great  faith  in  her 
capabilities.  Shortly  afterwards  he  returned  to  the  "  Monitor," 
and  at  about  half-past  seven  o'clock  A.  M.  the  "  Merrimac  "  was 
observed  to  be  approaching,  accompanied  by  her  consorts,  steam- 
ing slowly.  The  "  Monitor  "  got  under  way  as  soon  as  possible, 
and  stood  directly  for  the  "  Merrimac,"  with  crew  at  quarters,  in 
order  to  meet  or  engage  her  as  far  away  from  the  "  Minnesota" 
as  possible.  As  they  approached  the  enemy,  her  wooden  con- 
sorts turned  and  stood  back  in  the  direction  from  which  they 
had  come,  and  she  turned  her  head  up  stream,  against  the  tide, 
remaining  nearly  stationary,  and  commenced  firing. 

At  this  time,  about  eight  o'clock  A.  M.,  the  "  Monitor  "  was 
approaching  the  "  Merrimac  "  on  her  starboard  bow,  on  a  course 
nearly  at  right  angles  with  her  line  of  keel,  the  "Monitor" 
reserving  fire,  until  near  enough  that  every  shot  might  take 
effect  She  continued  to  so  approach  until  within  very  short 
range,  when  she  altered  her  course  parallel  with  the  "  Merrimac," 
but  with  bows  in  opposite  directions.  Then  the  "  Monitor " 
stopped  her  engine  and  commenced  firing.  In  this  way  she 
passed  slowly  by  the  "  Merrimac,"  within  a  few  yards,  delivering 
her  fire  as  rapidly  as  possible,  and  receiving  from  the  "  Merri- 
mac" a  rapid  fire  in  return,  both  from  her  great  guns  and 
musketry,  the  latter  aimed  at  the  pilot-house,  hoping,  undoubt- 
edly, to  penetrate  it  through  the  look-out  holes  and  to  disable 
the  commanding  officer,  pilot  and  helmsman,  the  sole  occupants. 
At  this  moment  Worden  felt  some  anxiety  about  the  turret 
machinery,  it  having  been  predicted  by  many  persons  that  a 
heavy  shot  striking  the  turret  with  great  initial  velocity  would 
so  derange  it  as  to  stop  its  working ;  but,  finding  that  it  had 
been  twice  struck  and  still  revolved  as  freely  as  ever,  he  turned 
back  with  renewed  confidence  and  hope,  and  continued  the 
engagement  at  close  quarters  ;  every  shot  from  the  "  Monitor's  " 
guns  taking  effect  upon  the  huge  sides  of  her  adversary,  strip- 
ping off  the  iron  plating  freely. 

During  the  engagement,  the  "  Monitor  "  ran  across  and  close 
to  the  stern  of  the  "  Merrimac,"  hoping  to  disable  her  screw, 
which  she  could  not  have  missed  by  more  than  two  feet. 


27 

After  having  passed  up  on  her  port  side,  in  crossing  her  bow 
to  get  between  her  and  the  "  Minnesota  "  again,  the  "Merrimac" 
steamed  up  quickly,  and  finding  that  she  would  strike  the 
"  Monitor  "  with  her  prow  or  ram,  Worden  put  the  "  Monitor's  " 
helm  "  hard  a  port,"  giving  a  broad  sheer  with  her  bow  towards 
the  enemy's  stern,  thus  avoiding  a  direct  blow  and  receiving  it 
at  a  sharp  angle  on  the  starboard  quarter,  which  caused  it  to 
glance  off  without  inflicting  any  injury  to  the  "Monitor." 

The  contest  so  continued,  except  for  an  interval  of  about  fif- 
teen minutes,  when  the  "Monitor"  hauled  off  to  remedy  some  de- 
ficiency in  the  supply  of  shot  in  the  turret,  until  near  noon,  when, 
being  within  ten  yards  of  the  enemy,  a  shell  from  the  "  Merri- 
mac "  struck  her  pilot-house  near  the  look-out  hole,  through 
which  Worden  was  looking.  The  shell  exploded,  fracturing  one 
of  the  logs  of  iron  of  which  it  was  composed,  filling  his  face  and 
eyes  with  powder,  utterly  blinding  and  partially  stunning  him. 
His  escape  from  instant  death  was  marvelous,  as  I  heard  from  his 
own  lips.  He  had  just  at  that  moment  withdrawn  his  face  from 
immediate  contact  with  the  look-out  hole ;  if  he  had  kept  it 
there  a  moment  longer,  the  shell  that  disabled  would  have  killed 
him  outright.  (I  would  here  state  that  Mr.  Ericsson  improved 
very  much  afterwards  upon  the  pilot-houses  ;  those  of  the  present 
day  are  quite  different  affairs  from  that  of  the  first  "  Monitor.") 

The  top  of  the  pilot-house  was  partially  lifted  off  by  the  force 
of  the  concussion,  which  let  in  a  flood  of  light  so  strong  as  to 
be  apparent  to  Worden,  blind  as  he  was,  and  caused  him  to 
believe  that  the  pilot-house  was  seriously  disabled.  He  there- 
fore gave  orders  to  put  the  helm  to  starboard  and  sheer  off,  and 
sent  for  Lieutenant  Greene  and  directed  him  to  take  command. 
Worden  was  then  taken  to  his  quarters,  and  had  been  there  but 
a  short  time  when  it  was  reported  to  him  that  the  "  Merrimac  " 
was  retiring  in  the  direction  of  Norfolk. 

In  the  meantime,  Lieut.  Greene,  after  taking  his  place  in  the 
pilot-house  and  finding  the  injuries  there  less  serious  than 
Worden  supposed,  had  turned  the  vessel's  head  again  in  the 
direction  of  the  enemy  to  continue  the  engagement ;  but  before 
he  could  get  at  close  quarters  with  her,  the  "  Merrimac  "  retired. 


28 

He,  therefore,  very  properly  returned  to  the  "  Minnesota,"  and 
lay  by  her  until  she  floated. 

The  "  Merrimac  "  having  been  thus  checked  in  her  career  of 
destruction  and  driven  back  crippled  and  discomfited,  the 
question  arises,  Should  she  have  been  followed  in  her  retreat  to 
Norfolk  ?  That  such  a  course  would  commend  itself  very 
temptingly  to  the  gallantry  of  an  officer  and  be  difficult  to  resist, 
is  undeniable ;  yet  I  am  convinced  that,  under  the  condition  of 
affairs  then  existing  at  Hampton  Roads,  with  the  great  interests 
at  stake  there,  all  of  which  were  entirely  dependent  upon  the 
"  Monitor,"  good  judgment  forbade  a  pursuit  of  the  enemy.  It 
must  be  remembered  that  the  pilot-house  of  the  "  Monitor  "  was 
situated  well  forward  in  her  bows,  and  that  it  was  considerably 
damaged.  In  following  in  the  wake  of  the  enemy,  in  order  to 
fire  clear  of  the  pilot-house  it  would  have  been  necessary  to 
make  broad  "yaws"  to  starboard  or  port,  involving,  in  the 
excitement  of  such  a  chase,  the  very  serious  danger  of  grounding 
the  "Monitor"  in  the  narrower  portions  of  the  channels,  and 
near  some  of  the  enemy's  batteries,  whence  it  would  have  been 
very  difficult  to  extricate  her,  and  possibly  involving  her  loss. 
Such  a  danger  her  commander  would  not,  in  my  judgment,  have 
been  justified  in  encountering  :  for  her  loss  would  have  left  the 
vital  interests  in  all  the  waters  of  the  Chesapeake  at  the  mercy 
of  future  attacks  from  the  "  Merrimac."  Had  there  been  another 
iron-clad  in  reserve  at  that  point  to  guard  those  interests,  the 
question  would  have  presented  a  different  aspect ;  one  that 
would  not  only  have  justified  him  in  following  the  retreating 
enemy,  but  perhaps  made  it  his  imperative  duty  to  do  so. 

The  fact  that  the  battle  with  the  "  Merrimac  "  was  not  more 
decided  was  due  to  the  want  of  knowledge  of  the  endurance  of 
the  eleven-inch  Dahlgren  guns,  with  which  the  "  Monitor  "  was 
armed,  and  which  had  not  been  fully  tested.  Just  before  leaving 
New  York,  Lieutenant  Worden  received  a  peremptory  order 
from  the  Bureau  of  Ordnance,  to  use  only  the  prescribed  service 
charge,  viz.,  fifteen  pounds,  and  he  did  not  feel  justified  in 
violating  those  instructions  at  the  risk  of  bursting  one  of  the 
guns,  an  accident  which,  placed  as  they  were  in  the  turret, 


29 

would  have  almost  entirely  disabled  the  vessel.  Had  he  been 
able  to  use  the  thirty-pound  charges  which  experience  has  since 
shown  the  guns  to  be  capable  of  enduring,  there  is  little  doubt 
in  my  mind  that  the  contest  would  have  been  shorter  and  the 
result  more  decisive. 

Further,  the  crew  had  been  but  a  few  days  on  board,  the 
weather  was  bad,  mechanics  had  been  at  work  on  her  up  to  the 
moment  of  sailing,  and  sufficient  opportunity  had  not  been  af- 
forded to  practice  with  the  guns,  the  mode  of  manipulating  which 
was  entirely  novel.  A  few  days  at  Hampton  Roads  for  drilling 
the  men  and  getting  the  guns  and  turret-gear  in  smooth-working 
order  (the  latter,  from  having  been  constantly  wet  on  the  passage, 
was  somewhat  rusted),  would  have  enabled  the  guns  to  have  been 
handled  more  quickly  and  effectively,  and  with  better  results. 

In  his  official  report  Lieutenant  Worden  said  that  he  desired 
to  express  his  high  approbation  of  the  zeal,  energy  and  courage 
displayed  by  every  officer  and  man  under  his  command  during 
this  remarkable  combat,  as  well  as  during  the  trying  scenes  of 
the  passage  from  New  York.  He  commended  one  and  all  most 
heartily  to  the  favorable  consideration  of  the  Department  and 
of  the  country.  Lieutenant  Greene,  the  executive  officer,  had 
charge  of  the  turret,  and  handled  the  guns  with  great  courage, 
coolness  and  skill.  Throughout  the  engagement,  as  well  as  in 
the  equipment  of  the  vessel,  and  on  her  passage  to  Hampton 
Roads,  he  exhibited  an  earnest  devotion  to  duty,  unsurpassed 
in  Lieutenant  Worden's  experience.  For  which  good  service 
Worden  had  the  honor  in  person,  about  seven  years  ago,  to 
recommend  Greene  to  the  Department  and  to  the  Board  of 
Admirals  for  advancement,  in  accordance  with  the  precedent 
established  in  the  case  of  Lieutenant  Commander  Thornton, 
the  executive  officer  of  the  "  Kearsage,"  in  her  memorable 
fight  with  the  "Alabama." 

Acting-Master  Samuel  Howard,  who  volunteered  as  pilot, 
stood  by  Lieutenant  Worden  in  the  pilot-house,  during  the 
engagement,  and  behaved  with  courage  and  coolness.  For 
his  services  on  that  occasion  he  has  since  been  promoted  to 
Acting  Volunteer  Lieutenant. 


30 

Chief  Engineer  A.  C.  Stimers,  U.  S.  N.,  made  the  passage  on 
the  vessel,  to  report  upon  the  performance  of  the  machinery, 
and  performed  useful  service  during  the  engagement,  in  mani- 
pulating the  turret.  He  was  the  only  volunteer,  outside  of 
the  crew,  that  left  New  York  on  the  "  Monitor."  Mr.  Ericsson 
speaks  of  him  in  such  high  terms  in  fitting  out  the  "  Monitor," 
and  Admiral  Worden  commends  him  so  much  for  his  services 
during  the  fight,  that  I  deem  him  worthy  of  more  than  a 
passing  notice  here.  Mr.  Stimers  was  born  in  the  township 
of  Smithfield,  Madison  County,  N.  Y.,  June  5th,  1827.  He  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  of  the  State,  with  six  months 
in  a  select  school  in  the  village  of  Byron  Centre,  Genesee 
County,  N.  Y.  He  learned  the  machinist's  trade,  and  entered 
the  Navy  as  Third  Assistant  Engineer,  June  nth,  1849,  and 
became  Chief  Engineer  in  1858.  He  was  married  in  Buffalo, 
November  25,  1852,  to  the  adopted  daughter  of  the  late 
Oilman  Appleby,  and  was  living  here  with  his  family  when  the 
war  broke  out  in  1861,  having  just  returned  from  the  Pacific, 
where  he  had  been  cruising  as  Chief  Engineer  of  the  flag-ship 
"  Merrimac."  He  served  as  Assistant  Engineer  of  the  "  Michi- 
gan," on  the  Lakes  during  1850,  1851  and  1852. 

I  append  Mr.  Stimers  account  of  the  "  Monitor's "  first 
voyage  to  Hampton  Roads,  with  report  of  the  engagement,  and 
her  subsequent  loss,  and  the  cause  of  it,  off  Cape  Hatteras. 

First  Assistant  Engineer  Isaac  Newton,  the  Chief  Engineer 
of  the  vessel,  and  his  assistants,  managed  the  machinery  with 
careful  skill,  and  gave  prompt  and  correct  attention  to  all  the 
signals  from  the  pilot-house.  Acting  Assistant  Paymaster 
W.  F.  Keeler  and  Captain's  Clerk  Daniel  Toffey  made  their 
services  very  useful  in  transmitting  the  orders  of  Lieutenant 
Worden  to  the  turret.  Peter  Williams,  Quarter-Master,  was 
at  the  helm  by  the  side  of  Worden,  and  won  his  admiration 
by  his  cool  and  steady  handling  of  the  wheel. 

I  will  here  give  the  crew  list,  which  has  never  been  made 
public  before.  Fifty-seven  men  of  crew  proper,  and  with  Mr. 
Stimers  (volunteer),  fifty-eight  manned  the  "  Monitor." 


LIST   OF   THE   OFFICERS    AND    CREW 

Lieut.  John  L.  Worden,  U.  S.  N.,  . 

Lieut.  Samuel  D.  Greene,  U.  S.  N., 

Louis  N.  Stodder,  . 

John  J.  N.  Webber, 

Daniel  C.  Logne,   .... 

W.  F.  Keeler, 

Isaac  Newton,         .... 

Albert  B.  Campbell, 

R.  W.  Hands,         .... 

M.  T.  Sunstrum,     .... 

Daniel  Toffey,         .... 

Geo.  Frederickson, 

Jesse  M.  Jones,      .... 

R.  R.  Hubbell,      .... 

Richard  Angier, 

Peter  Williams,       .... 

Moses  M.  Stearns, 

Derick  Brinkman,  .         .         . 

Robert  Williams,    .... 

John  Driscoll,         .... 

Abram  Fester,         .... 

Wm.  Richardson,    .         . 

George  S.  Geer,      .... 

Patrick  Hannan,     .... 

Mathew  Leonard,   .... 

Thomas  Joyce,       .         .         . 

John  Garrety,  "  . 

Edmund  Brown,     .         .         ... 

Joseph  Crown,        .... 

John  Rooney,         .... 

Thomas  Carroll,  ist,       . 

John  P.  Conklin,    . 

John  Stocking,        .         .         . 

Lawrence  Murray, 

Wm.  H.  Nichols,    .... 

William  Byran,       .... 

David  Cuddebuck, 

Edward  Moore,      .         .         .        '. 

Thomas  Longhran,      -    .         .         . 

Thomas  Carroll,  2d, 

Charles  F.  Sylvester,       . 


OF   THE    U.  S.  S.    "  MONITOR. 

.     Commanding. 
.     Executive  Officer. 
.     Master. 

Master. 
.     Assistant  Surgeon. 

Paymaster. 

.     First  Assistant  Engineer. 
.     Second  Assistant  Engineer. 
.     Third  Assistant  Engineer. 
.     Third  Assistant  Engineer. 
.     Captain's  Clerk. 
.     Acting  Master's  Mate. 
.     Hospital  Steward. 
.     Paymaster's  Steward. 
.     Quarter-Master. 

Quarter-Master. 
.     Quarter-Master. 
.     Carpenter's  Mate. 
.     First  Class  Fireman. 
.     First  Class  Fireman. 
.     First  Class  Fireman. 
.     First  Class  Fireman. 
.     First  Class  Fireman. 
.     First  Class  Fireman. 
.     First  Class  Fireman. 

First  Class  Fireman. 
.     First  Class  Fireman. 
.     First  Class  Fireman. 
.     Gunner's  Mate. 
.     Master  at  Arms. 
.     Captain  of  Hold. 

Quarter  Gunner. 
.     Boatswain's  Mate. 

Landsman. 

Landsman. 
.     Yeoman. 
.     Officers'  Steward. 
.     Officers'  Cook. 
.     Ship's  Cook. 

First  Class  Boy. 

Seaman. 


32 

Charles  Peterson, Seaman. 

Anton  Basting,        ......  Seaman. 

Hans  Anderson,     .....  Seaman. 

Peter  Truscott,        .  •-,      .         ...         .  Seaman. 

Thomas  B.  Vial,     .         /        .         ...        .  Seaman. 

William  Marion,      .         .         ,-        .         .  Seaman. 

Anthony  Connoly,  .         .         .•        .  Seaman. 

James  Fenwick,      .         ;"'.-.         .  Seaman. 

Daniel  Welch,        .      7  .         .         .         .  Seaman. 

Michael  Mooney,   .         .....      .         .  Coal  Heaver. 

Ellis  Roberts,         .•       *         .      ...        .  Coal  Heaver. 

William  Durst,     '  ;         .         .         .-        .  Coal  Heaver. 

James  Seery,  .         .         ...        .  Coal  Heaver. 

Robert  Quinn,        .'•        .         .         .         .  Coal  Heaver. 

John  Mason,  .    '     .         .-        .         .  Coal  Heaver. 

Christy  Price,          .         .'        .         .         .  Coal  Heaver. 

A.  C.  Stimers,  Chief  Engineer,  passenger,  and  volunteer  officer. 

Mr.  President  and  gentlemen,  the  battle  of  the  "  Monitor " 
and  "  Merrimac "  is  over.  The  once  proud,  and  supposed  in- 
vincible and  invulnerable,  ship  has  retired,  battered  and  worth- 
less, never  again  to  fire  a  hostile  gun  aimed  at  the  flag  from 
which  she  rebelled  and  was  stolen. 

The  prophecy  of  Ericsson  as  to  what  his  "  Monitor  "  could  do 
has  been  fulfilled.  She  has  been  "  heard  from."  In  Downing 
Street  by  the  Lords  of  Admiralty ;  by  peasant  and  peer  alike, 
all  over  the  world,  wherever  language  is  printed  or  written, 
Ericsson  and  his  "  Monitor"  have  been  heard  of.  Their  triumph 
has  been  complete. 

Captain  Ericsson  received  a  vote  of  thanks  from  Congress, 
couched  in  very  flattering  terms,  as  follows  : 

Resolved,  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  in  Congress  assembled :  That  it  is  fit  and  proper  that 
a  public  acknowledgment  be  made  to  Captain  John  Ericsson  for  the 
enterprise,  skill,  energy  and  forecast  displayed  by  him  in  the  construc- 
tion of  his  iron-clad  boat,  the  "  Monitor,"  which,  under  gallant  and  able 
management,  came  so  opportunely  to  the  rescue  of  our  fleet  in  Hamp- 
ton Roads,  and  perchance,  of  all  our  coast  defences  near,  and  arrested 
the  work  of  destruction  then  being  successfully  prosecuted  by  the 
enemy,  by  their  iron-clad  steamer,  seemingly  irresistible  by  any  other 


33 

power  at  our  command,  and  that  the  thanks  of  Congress  are  hereby 
presented  to  him  for  the  great  service  he  has  thus  rendered  to  the 
country. 

The  Legislature  of  this  State  also  passed  a  vote  of  thanks 
which  was  inscribed  on  parchment,  set  in  a  fine  gilt  frame,  the 
"Monitor"  and  its  constructor  being  truthfully  depicted.  A 
committee  of  six  members  of  the  Legislature  being  appointed 
to  present  to  him  this  valuable  document,  which  read  as  follows: 

State  of  New  York,  in  Assembly,  March  ijth,  1862. 

Whereas,  The  recent  naval  engagement  in  Hampton  Roads,  while 
establishing  the  utility  and  importance  of  iron-clad  vessels  of  war,  has 
equally  confirmed  the  genius  of  our  inventors,  and  the  undaunted  gal- 
lantry of  our  naval  officers  and  sailors ;  therefore,  be  it 

Resolved,  That  John  Ericsson,  in  the  conception  and  construction  of 
the  "  Monitor,"  has  materially  contributed  to  the  protection  of  our 
forces  on  sea  and  land,  and  the  effective  and  speedy  prosecution  of  the 
war ;  and  is  eminently  entitled  to  the  thanks  of  his  countrymen. 

Some  leading  engineering  establishments  and  ship  builders 
also  presented  him  with  a  magnificent  model  of  the  "  Monitor," 
made  of  pure  gold,  weighing  upwards  of  fourteen  pounds,  the 
entire  detail  of  the  turret  machinery,  &c.,  being  represented, 
and  is  said  to  have  cost  seven  thousand  dollars. 

Here  I  will  give  you  a  list  of  the  ships  and  guns  that  were 
afloat  in  Hampton  Roads  on  that  memorable  Sunday  morning, 
March  Qth,  1862,  and  then  sum  up  the  result. 

Twenty  ships  of  war  in  all,  mounting  298  guns,  headed  by 
the  "  Monitor,"  viz. : 

"  Monitor,"         .         .         .     mounting  2  guns. 

"Roanoke,"       ,         .         .  "      40  " 

"Minnesota,"     ...  "       48  " 

"Congress,"       ...  "      50  " 

"Cumberland,"  .  "24  " 

"  St.  Lawrence,"          .         .  "50  " 

"  Brandywine,"  .         .  "       50  "        Store  Ship. 

"  Ben  Morgan,"          .         .  "no  "        Ordnance  ship. 

"Cambridge,"    ...  5  " 

"Whitehall,"      ...  2  "        Tug. 

3 


34 

"  Mount  Vernon,"      .         ./    mounting  3  guns. 

"Mystic,"          ..         .    •     .  •  4     " 

"Dragon,"  .  i     "        Tug. 

"Zouave,"         ....  i  '  "        Tug. 

"  Mount  Washington,"        .  4     " 

"  Braziliera,"      .         .  6     " 

"S.  R.  Spaulding,"     .         .  3     " 

"  Young  America,"     .         .  2     "        Tug. 

"  Charles  Phelps,"      .  i     " 

"Delaware,"       ...  2     " 

298  guns. 

There  were  also  a  number  of  transports,  chartered  vessels  and 
private  property,  swelling  to  a  large  amount  the  values  of  life 
and  property  exposed  to  the  "  Merrimac."  This  all  captured 
and  destroyed,  the  Atlantic  seaboard  cities  were  at  the  mercy 
of  the  famous  rebel  ram,  and  no  estimate  could  be  made  of  her 
powers  of  destruction.  The  "  Monitor  "  saved  them  all.  If  she 
had  not  won,  European  governments  would  have  acknowleged 
the  Confederacy  at  once. 

In  reference  to  the  first  mission  of  the  "  Monitor,"  there  is 
a  little  bit  of  history  that  is  worthy  of  special  mention.  I 
have  already  shown  that  Lieutenant  Worden  was  directed  to 
proceed  to  Hampton  Roads  for  orders.  Two  hours  after  he  had 
sailed  from  New  York,  orders  came  from  Washington  directing 
him  to  proceed  to  the  Potomac,  where  it  was  thought  the 
"Monitor"  was  more  needed,  leaving  the  large  fleet  of  war 
vessels  at  Hampton  Roads  to  protect  that  place.  The  authori- 
ties little  dreamed  then  of  the  aggressive  powers  of  the  "  Merri- 
mac," and  how  poorly  the  whole  fleet  was  prepared  to  cope 
with  that  powerful  antagonist.  Luckily,  Worden  and  his 
"  Monitor "  were  beyond  its  reach.  But  can  we  call  it  luck  ? 
Was  it  not  rather  the  special  interposition  of  Divine  Providence 
to  save  the  great  cities  of  the  Atlantic  seaboard  from  certain 
destruction  by  the  "  Merrimac,"  after  she  had  destroyed  every 
vessel  in  Hampton  Roads  ?  Considering  the  timely  appearance 
of  our  "  Monitor,"  who  can  doubt  that  we  were  cared  for  by 
the  great  Director  of  all  things. 


35 

The  above  fact  came  to  my  knowledge  quite  recently,  since 
the  greater  portion  of  this  paper  was  written,  and  it  is  added 
as  another  of  the  many  wonderful  incidents  connected  with  the 
subject. 

You  can  see  here  before  you  a  perfect  miniature  scale-model  of 
the  "Monitor,"  made  at  Mr.  Rowland's  "Continental  Iron  Works" 
at  Green  Point.  Her  subsequent  career  was  as  follows  : 

Soon  after  the  action  with  the  "  Merrimac,"  the  "  Monitor " 
anchored  near  the  "  Minnesota,"  off  Newport  News,  and  remained 
there  until  eight  o'clock  A.  M.  of  Monday,  March  loth,  1862. 
The  "Minnesota"  floated  at  about  four  o'clock  A.  M.  of  the 
same  day  and  proceeded  to  Hampton  Roads.  At  eight  o'clock 
A.  M.  the  "Monitor"  got  under  way  and  steamed  to  Hampton 
Roads,  arriving  there  about  half-past  nine  the  same  morning. 
She  was  lustily  cheered  by  the  entire  fleet  as  she  steamed  past 
the  vessels. 

Late  on  Monday  night  Lieutenant  T.  O.  Selfridge  took 
command,  having  been  ordered  by  G.  V.  Fox,  Assistant 
Secretary  of  the  Navy,  and  three  days  afterwards  Lieut. 
Selfridge  was  relieved  by  Lieut.  W.  N.  Jeffers.  |  From  the  loth 
of  March  until  the  destruction  of  the  "Merrimac"  on  the  nth 
of  May,  the  "Monitor"  laid  at  Hampton  Roads,  guarding  the 
Elizabeth  and  James  Rivers,  and  always  ready  for  the 
"  Merrimac."  During  this  time  her  pilot-house  was  strength- 
ened by  heavy  pieces  of  oak  being  bolted  to  the  lower  part, 
and  covered  with  three  layers  of  iron  plates,  each  one  inch 
thick,  the  surface  making  an  angle  of  40  degrees  with  the  deck, 
and  coming  up  on  the  sides  of  the  pilot-house  to  just  below  the 
sight  holes.  May  8th  she  engaged  the  Battery  on  Sewell's 
Point,  in  company  with  the  fleet.  During  this  period  her 
officers  and  crew  suffered  much  inconvenience  from  bad  ventila- 
tion, and  from  the  sea  frequently  sweeping  over  her  decks 
(especially  at  the  change  of  tide),  large  quantities  of  water 
getting  below. 

On  the  1 2th  of  May  the  "Monitor"  led  the  vessels  that  went 
to  Norfolk  on  the  evacuation  of  that  city  by  the  rebels,  and  a 
few  days  afterwards  proceeded  up  the  James  River  as  one  of 


36 

the  flotilla  under  command  of  Commodore  John  Rodgers,  who 
commanded  the  iron-plated  steamer  "Galena."  On  the  I5th  of 
May  she  participated  in  the  engagements  of  Fort  Darling  on 
the  James  River,  seven  miles  below  Richmond,  Va.  This  action 
lasted  four  hours.  The  "  Monitor  "  was  struck  several  times  by 
heavy  shot,  but  received  no  material  damage. 

From  this  time,  until  the  retreat  of  the  army  from  the  Penin- 
sula, the  "Monitor"  was  employed  patrolling  the  James  River, 
and  frequently  engaged  with  the  enemy's  sharpshooters  and 
artillery  upon  the  banks  of  the  river.  She  arrived  on  the  3ist 
of  August  at  Newport  News,  being  the  last  vessel  that  came 
down  the  James  River. 

Commander  T.  H.  Stevens  relieved  Lieut.  Commander  W. 
N.  JefFers  from  the  command  of  the  "  Monitor  "  the  latter  part 
of  July  or  early  in  August,  and  Commander  John  P.  Bank-head 
took  command  of  her  in  September.  In  that  month  the 
"Monitor"  proceeded  to  the  Washington  Navy  Yard  for  repairs. 
She  sailed  again  for  Hampton  Roads  in  November. 

On  the  2Qth  of  December,  1862,  she  sailed  for  Beaufort,  N.  C., 
in  company  with  the  steamer  "  Rhode  Island,"  her  convoy, 
and  on  the  night  of  the  3Oth  she  foundered  near  Cape  Hatteras. 
About  half  of  her  officers  and  crew  were  carried  down  with  her; 
the  others  escaped  to  the  convoy  "  Rhode  Island."  The  cause 
of  her  foundering  is  not  known.  It  may  perhaps  be  assigned 
to  the  fact  that  she  had  lain  all  summer  in  the  hot  sun  of  the 
James  River.  The  oak  timber,  which  had  been  fitted  to  the  top 
edge  of  the  iron  hull,  had  shrunk  so,  that  when  in  the  heavy 
sea  there  was  two  or  three  feet  of  water  over  it  most  of  the 
time,  on  the  weather  side;  and  the  water  found  its  way  through 
this  space  and  flowed  in  great  volume  into  the  ship,  with  fatal 
effect. 

Among  those  of  her  crew  lost  when  she  foundered,  was  the 
son  of  our  townsman,  William  Nicklis. 

I  append  to  this  history  the  naval  record  of  Rear  Admiral 
John  L.  Worden,  U.  S.  N.,  the  commander  of  the  "  Monitor," 
and  several  testimonials  of  commendation  for  his  services,  from 
Congress,  and  from  different  Chambers  of  Commerce.  The 


37 

State  of  New  York  presented  him  with  a  sword.  Buffalo  was 
not  unmindful  of  the  hero,  some  of  her  citizens  having  sent  him 
the  first  testimonial  he  received.  These  testimonials  could  not 
be  otherwise  than  gratifying  to  the.  gallant  man  who  had,  with 
his  officers  and  crew,  so  successfully  fought  the  first  fight  of  the 
kind  in  the  world,  destroying  the  "  Merrimac  "  as  a  fighting 
ship  forever,  and  thereby  saving  human  lives  and  property  that 
cannot  even  be  calculated.  I  learned  out  of  his  own  mouth 
that  the  first  testimonial  reached  him  from  Buffalo,  and  he  said 
it  was  the  first  thing  which  called  his  attention  to  the  fact  that 
he  had  done  anything  meriting  commendation.  He  said  :  "  I 
was  lying  on  my  back,  helpless  and  blind,  when  my  good  wife 
put  into  my  hands  the  beautiful  and  appreciated  remembrance 
from  friends  in  Buffalo.  I  asked  my  wife  to  guide  my  fingers 
over  the  inscription  and  the  names  of  the  donors.  You  can- 
not imagine  the  thrill  of  emotion  and  pleasure  that  passed 
through  my  mind  on  her  doing  so,  and  when  I  handled  the 
beautiful  gift  of  your  citizens." 

The  testimonials  were  as  well  deserved  as  they  were  appre- 
ciated. But  the  name  and  fame  of  this  gallant  Worden  are 
inseparably  connected  with  the  "Monitor"  and  her  glorious 
fight  and  victory,  which  will  live  forever,  and  be  estimated  at  a 
value  far  beyond  the  eulogy  of  testimonials,  or  of  silver  and 
gold.  For,  what  he  only  claimed  as  a  repulse,  or  driving  into 
Norfolk,  of  the  disabled  "  Merrimac,"  as  he  deemed  her,  was 
really  a  substantial  victory.  For  all  practical  purposes  as  a 
fighting  ship  the  "  Merrimac  "  was  as  completely  destroyed  as 
though  she  had  been  sunk  in  Hampton  Roads  in  the  first  day's 
fight.  This  was  demonstrated  by  her  subsequent  career.  She 
was  only  kept  for  a  show  or  semblance  of  power,  and  the 
gallant  though  misguided  Tatnall  well  knew  this  when  he 
applied  the  fuse  to  blow  her  up.  He  was  convinced  of  her 
worthlessness,  and  only  destroyed  the  shell  from  which  Lieu- 
tenant Worden  and  his  "  Monitor  "  had  taken  the  power. 

As  a  matter  of  great  interest,  I  will  also  annex  a  statement 
from  our  townsman,  Captain  James  Byers,  who  was  captured  at 
Norfolk  where  he  happened  to  be  in  command  of  the  steam 


38 

tug  "J.  B.  White,"  in  the  employ  of  Mr.  Barton,  formerly  of 
this  city,  at  that  time  a  contractor  on  the  Albemarle  Canal. 
The  Confederates  pressed  Byers  and  his  steamer  into  their 
service. 

The  waters  of  Hampton  Roads  are  classic  in  American 
history.  Into  their  shelter,  from  the  Old  World,  sailed  the 
expedition  of  Captain  Smith,  that  settled  Jamestown,  in  May, 
1607,  a  squadron  of  three  ships.  They  have  afforded  a  safe 
harbor  and  anchorage  for  the  tempest-tossed  mariner,  from  that 
day  to  this.  The  harbor  has  been  the  theatre  of  many  important 
scenes,  being  so  close  to  our  great  Navy  Yard  at  Norfolk.  But, 
towering  far  above  them  all,  the  record  of  the  glorious  fight  of 
the  "  Monitor "  with  the  "  Merrimac "  commands  our  admira- 
tion, as  of  the  greatest  importance,  not  only  in  the  affairs  of 
this  country,  but  to  the  world  at  large. 

All  honor  to  the  names  of  Ericsson,  Winslow,  Griswold, 
Bushnell,  Rowland,  Worden,  Greene  and  Newton,  with  those  of 
all  her  officers  and  crew,  not  omitting  the  name  of  volunteer 
Stimers.  These  are  the  men  that  invented,  built,  manned  and 
fought  our  "  Monitor."  They  all  deserve  to  be  held  in  the 
highest  respect  by  the  American  people;  and  it  should  never 
be  said,  as  applied  to  them,  that  "  Republics  are  ungrateful." 

The  names  apd  acts  of  the  men  of  the  "  Monitor,"  the 
"  Cumberland "  and  the  "  Congress "  should  be  cherished  and 
recorded  with  those  of  the  sailor  heroes  of  the  past,  who  have 
made  the  naval  record  of  this  country  one  of  the  brightest 
pages  of  its  history.  They  showed  the  world  that  the  gallant 
spirit  which  animated  the  breasts  of  Jones,  Decatur,  Lawrence, 
Porter,  Perry,  and  the  other  heroes  of  an  earlier  day,  had  not 
died  out,  but  still  lived  to  animate  our  sailors  when  the  occasion 
came  to  arouse  it,  as  was  proved  later  still  by  Farragut,  Bailey, 
Porter  and  a  host  of  other  noble  sailors,  who  added  to  the  proud 
record  of  the  American  Navy. 

E.  P.  DORR. 

BUFFALO,  January  5th,  1874. 


39 


APPENDIX. 


STATISTICS  OF  THE  FIRST  MONITOR. 


She  was  124  feet  long,  18  feet  wide  on  the  bottom  and  34  feet 
wide  at  the  jtfnction  of  the  armor  raft  with  hull,  and  6^  feet  in  depth. 
Her  bow  raked  n^  feet,  stern  raked  9  feet  10  inches.  The  armor 
raft  was  173  feet  4  inches  long  over  all,  41  feet  4  inches  wide  and  5  feet 
in  depth.  The  bow  projected  15  feet  beyond  the  hull,  the  stern  over- 
hung 34  feet  4  inches.  The  side  armor  consisted  of  5  one-inch  plates 
5  feet  deep,  backed  up  with  27  inches  of  oak.  The  deck  armor  was 
7  inches  of  timber  laid  on  wooden  beams  ten  inches  square ;  the  whole 
covered  with  two  plates  of  one-half  inch  iron. 

The  turret  was  20  feet  inside  diameter,  formed  of  eight-inch  plates, 
9  feet  in  height.  The  top  was  covered  with  railroad  bars,  and  a  plate 
of  iron  perforated  full  of  holes  for  the  egress  of  air.' 

The  pilot-house  was  formed  of  eight-inch  square  bars,  with  corners 
notched  log-house  fashion. 

The  guns  were  placed  in  wrought-iron  carriages. 

The  power  consisted  of  a  pair  of  steam-,  low-pressure  engines,  with 
cylinders  forty-inch  and  thirty-inch  stroke,  placed  horizontally,  and 
operating  the  screw  shaft  by  means  of  bell  cranks. 

The  screw  was  9  feet  in  diameter  and  16  feet  pitch. 

Steam  was  supplied  to  the  main  engines,  also  turret  and  blower 
engines,  from  two  boilers  with  horizontal  tubes. 

The  keel  was  laid  October  22d,  1861,  and  she  was  launched  January 
3oth,  at  9:45  A.  M.,  1862. 

During  the  time  of  her  construction  Captain  Ericsson  was  continually 
on  the  ground,  from  early  in  the  morning  till  late  at  night. 


NAVAL  RECORD  OF  REAR  ADMIRAL  JOHN 
LO  RIMER    WORD  EN,   U.  S.  N. 


Born  in  the  town  of  Sing  Sing,  Westchester  County,  New  York. 

Appointed  a  Midshipman  in  the  Navy,  from  Fishkill,  Dutchess  Co., 
N.  Y.,  Jan.  10,  1834. 

Ordered  to  sloop  of  war  "  Erie,"  June  2oth,  1834,  and  served  in  her 
on  the  Brazil  Station  until  September  2oth,  1837. 

Served  in  sloop  of  war  "  Cyane  "  in  the  Mediterranean  Squadron, 
from  7th  May,  1838,  until  Dec.  2d,  1839. 

Served  at  Naval  School  at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  from  December  23d, 
1839,  until  the  2oth  July,  1840. 

Promoted  to  passed  Midshipman  on  the  1 6th  of  July,  1 840. 

Served  on  board  store  ship  "  Relief"  in  the  Pacific  Squadron,  from 
Oct.  1 3th,  1840,  until  Sept.  6th,  1842  ;  transferred  to  the  sloop  of  war 
"  Dale,"  and  detached  from  her  on  the  23d  of  October,  at  New  York, 
1843. 

On  duty  at  the  Naval  Observatory  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  from  April 
7th,  1844,  until  May  28th,  1846. 

Promoted  to  Master  Aug.  i3th,  [846,  and  on  the  3oth  Nov.,  1846, 
promoted  to  Lieutenant. 

Served  on  board  store  ship  "  Southampton  "  in  the  Pacific  Squadron, 
from  the  5th  of  February,  1847,  until  May,  1848,  when  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  "  Independence,"  on  same  station  ;  was  again  transferred 
on  July  i3th,  1848,  to  the  "Warren,"  of  same  Squadron  ;  on  the  i2th 
Sept.,  1849,  was  ordered  to  the  line-of-battle  ship  "  Ohio,"  on  same 
station,  and  detached  from  her  at  Boston,  April  29th,  1850. 

On  duty  at  Naval  Observatory,  from  October  1850,  until  March 
1 5th,  1852. 

Served  on  board  the  frigate  "  Cumberland "  in  the  Mediterranean 
Squadron,  from  April,  1852,  until  i5th  February,  1855,  when  he  was 
transferred  to  the  sloop  of  war  "  Levant,"  and  detached  from  her  in 
New  York  in  May,  1855. 

On  duty  at  the  Naval  Observatory,  from  Oct.  24th,  1855,  unt^ 
March,  1856. 

On  duty  at  Navy  Yard,  New  York,  from  March,  1856,  until  July  ist, 
1858. 

Served  on  board  frigate  "  Savannah  "  (as  First  Lieutenant)  in  the 
Home  Squadron,  from  July  ist,  1858,  until  Nov.  2oth,  1860. 


41 

On  the  6th  of  April,  1861,  reported  at  Washington  under  orders  "for 
special  duty  connected  with  the  discipline  and  efficiency  of  the  Naval 
Service,"  but  finding  that  ships  were  being  rapidly  fitted  for  service,  in 
consequence  of  the  secession  movements,  asked  to  be  relieved  from 
that  duty  and  applied  for  service  afloat. 

Next  day  (yth),  at  daylight,  was  sent  to  Pensacola  with  dispatches 
for  the  commanding  officer  of  the  Squadron  off  that  port  (orders  to 
reinforce  Fort  Pickens),  and  reached  there  about  1 1  ^  o'clock  P.  M., 
April  loth.  A  heavy  gale  blowing  on  the  nth,  could  not  communicate 
with  the  Squadron.  The  next  day  (the  i2th)  was  enabled  to  reach  it, 
and  deliver  dispatches  about  noon. 

At  3  o'clock  P.  M.  of  same  day  left  the  Squadron,  with  orders  to 
return  to  Washington  by  rail.  Took  the  cars  at  9  P.  M.  for  Mont- 
gomery, Alabama,  and  on  the  next  day  (i3th),  at  about  4  o'clock  P.  M., 
was  arrested  at  the  first  railroad  station  south  of  Montgomery,  to  which 
place  he  was  conveyed,  and  there  detained  as  a  prisoner  of  war  until 
Nov.  i4th,  1861,  when  he  was  paroled  and  ordered  to  report  to  the 
Secretary  of  War  at  Richmond,  Va. 

Arrived  at  latter  place  on  Nov.  i6th,  and  left  there  next  day  (lyth) 
by  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  to  report  to  General  Huger  at  Nor- 
folk, Va.,  who,  on  the  next  day  (i8th),  sent  him  under  flag  of  truce  to 
Hampton  Roads  and  delivered  him  to  Admiral  Goldsborough,  who,  in 
accordance  with  arrangements,  sent  back  Lieut.  Sharpe,  a  Confederate 
prisoner,  whose  delivery  to  General  Huger  ended  Lieut.  Worden's 
parole. 

Was  at  Naval  Rendezvous  at  New  York,  from  about  November  2oth, 
1 86 1,  until  the  i6th  of  January,  1862,  when  he  was  ordered  to  the 
command  of  the  "  Monitor,"  and  remained  in  her  until  his  removal  on 
account  of  the  injuries  received  in  the  encounter  with  the  "  Merrimac," 
on  the  gth  of  March,  1862. 

Promoted  to  Commander,  July  i6th,  1862. 

Was  on  duty  at  New  York  as  assistant  to  Admiral  Gregory  in  super- 
intending the  construction  of  iron-clads,  from  August  i4th,  1862,  to 
October  8th,  1862. 

Commanded  iron-clad  "  Montauk "  from  October  8th,  1862,  until 
April  1 6th,  1863,  in  the  South  Atlantic  Squadron.  In  her  attacked 
Fort  McAllister,  on  the  Ogechee  River,  on  January  2;th  and  February 
ist,  1863,  and  on  the  28th  of  February  destroyed  the  Confederate 
privateer  "  Nashville  "  under  the  guns  of  that  fort.  Participated  in  the 
attack  made  by  the  iron-clad  fleet,  under  command  of  Admiral  Du- 
pont,  upon  the  defences  of  Charleston,  S.  C.,  on  the  ;th  of  April,  1863. 

Promoted  to  Captain,  February  3d,  1863. 


42 

On  duty  with  Admiral  Gregory  in  superintending  the  construction  of 
iron-clads,  from  April  23d,  1863,  until  February  2d,  1866. 

Commanded  steamer  "Idaho"  from  February  ist,  1866,  until  May 
23d,  1866,  on  "  trial  and  experimental  trips." 

On  iron-clad  duty  from  June  2d,  1866,  until  August  6th,  1866. 

In  command  of  the  steamer  "  Pensacola "  in  the  Pacific  Squadron, 
from  the  6th  of  August,  1866,  until  May  8th,  1867. 

Promoted  to  the  grade  of  Commodore,  May  27th,  1868. 

Ordered  to  Naval  Academy,  as  Superintendent,  December  ist,  1869. 

Promoted  to  grade  of  Rear  Admiral,  November  2oth,  1872. 


RESOLUTIONS,  PRESENTATIONS,  ETC. 


LETTER  FROM  REAR  ADMIRAL  WORDEN. 

U.  S.  NAVAL  ACADEMY, 
ANNAPOLIS,  MD.,  Dec.  22d,  1873. 

MY  DEAR  SIR, — I  enclose  herewith  copies  of  certain  papers,  ad- 
dressed to  me,  in  reference  to  the  "  Monitor  "  affair,  viz. : 

A  resolution  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the 
United  States,  tendering  thanks,  etc. 

A  letter  of  thanks  from  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy. 

A  resolution  of  the  Assembly  of  the  State  of  New  York,  authorizing 
a  sword  to  be  presented  to  me. 

The  letter  of  the  Secretary  of  State  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
accompanying  the  sword  on  its  presentation. 

My  reply  to  letter  of  Secretary  of  State. 

And  a  resolution  of  thanks  from  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  of  New 
York. 

I  also  enclose  a  copy  of  the  letter  of  the  citizens  of  Buffalo  trans- 
mitted with  the  gold  box.  The  inscription  on  the  box  is  as  follows : 

LIEUTENANT  JOHN  L.  WORDEN,  U.  S.  N. 
FROM  CITIZENS  OF  BUFFALO,  N.  Y., 

APRIL  STH,  1862. 
"You  beat  the  'Merrimac '  and  saved  the  'Minnesota'" 

DESCRIPTION. — Between  the  upper  lines  and  the  motto  is  a  picture 
of  the  fight  between  the  "  Monitor  "  and  "  Merrimac,"  engraved  on  the 
lid  of  the  box. 


43 

I  have  no  knowledge  of  the  amount  or  character  of  the  tests  to 
which  the  guns  of  the  vessel  had  been  put ;  I  only  know  that  they  had 
not  been  sufficiently  tested  to  satisfy  the  Bureau  of  their  endurance, 
and  hence  the  order  I  received.* 

I  am,  dear  sir,  very  truly  yours, 

JOHN  L.  WORDEN. 
To  E.  P.  DORR,  Esq.,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 


JOINT    RESOLUTIONS    OF    CONGRESS. 

Resolved  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  of  the  United  States 
of  America  in  Congress  assembled : 

That  the  thanks  of  Congress  and  of  the  American  people  are  due 
and  are  hereby  tendered  to  Lieutenant  John  L.  Worden,  U.  S.  N.,  and 
to  the  officers  and  men  of  the  iron-clad  gun-boat  "  Monitor  "  under  his 
command,  for  the  skill  and  gallantry  exhibited  by  them  in  the  late 
remarkable  battle  between  the  "  Monitor "  and  the  rebel  iron-clad 
steamer  "  Merrimac." 

"  SEC.  2."     Be  it  further 

Resolved,  That  the  President  of  the  United  States  be  requested  to 
cause  this  resolution  to  be  communicated  to  Lieutenant  Worden,  and 
through  him  to  the  officers  and  men  under  his  command. 

Approved  July  nth,  1872. 
(Vol.  12,  p.  622.) 


THANKS  FROM  THE  NAVY  DEPARTMENT. 

NAVY  DEPARTMENT,  March  i5th,  1862. 

SIR, — The  naval  action  which  took  place  on  the  9th  inst.  between  the 
"  Monitor"  and  the  "  Merrimac"  at  Hampton  Roads,  when  your  vessel 
with  two  guns  engaged  a  powerful  armored  steamer  of  at  1'east  eight 
guns,  and  after  a  four-hours'  conflict  repelled  her  formidable  antagonist, 
has  excited  general  admiration  and  received  the  applause  of  the  whole 
country. 

The  President  directs  me,  while  earnestly  and  deeply  sympathizing 
with  you  in  the  injuries  which  you  have  sustained,  but  which  it  is 


*I  had  asked  him  if  the  "  Monitor's"  guns  had  been  sufficiently  tested  before  her 
engagement  with  the  "  Merrimac." — NOTE  BY  E.  P.  D. 


44 

believed  are  but  temporary,  to  thank  you  and  your  command  for  the 
heroism  you  have  displayed  and  the  great  service  you  have  rendered. 

The  action  of  the  gth,  and  the  performance,  power  and  capabilities 
of  the  "  Monitor,"  must  effect  a  radical  change  in  naval  warfare. 

Flag  Officer  Goldsborough  in  your  absence  will  be  furnished  by  the 
Department   with  a  copy  of  this  letter  of  thanks,  and  instructed  to 
cause  it  to  be  read  to  the  officers  and  crew  of  the  "  Monitor." 
I  am,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

GIDEON  WELLES. 
Lieut.  JOHN  L.  WORDEN,  U.  S.  N., 

Commanding  U.  S.  steamer  "  Monitor,"  Washington,  D.  C. 


PRESENTATION  OF  A  SWORD  BY  THE  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK. 

STATE  OF  NEW  YORK,  ASSEMBLY  CHAMBER, 

ALBANY,  April  23d,  1862. 
On  motion  of  Mr.  Coles, — 

Resolved,  That  the  Secretary  of  the  State  cause  a  sword  and  its  accou- 
trements, with  a  suitable  inscription,  to  be  manufactured  and  presented 
to  that  gallant  son  of  the  State  of  New  York,  Lieutenant  John  L.  Wor- 
den,  as  a  slight  testimonial  of  his  bravery  in  the  late  naval  engagement 
at  Hampton  Roads.  By  order, 

J.   B.  CUSHMAN,  Clerk. 


OFFICE  OF  THE  SECRETARY  OF  STATE  OF  THE 

STATE  OF  NEW  YORK, 
ALBANY,  December  i6th,  1862. 
To  Lieut.  JOHN  L.  WORDEN  : 

SIR, — In  accordance  with  the  enclosed  "  resolution  "  of  the  Assembly, 
passed  at  the  last  session  of  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
and  in  behalf  of  the  people  of  this  State,  the  accompanying  sword  is 
presented  to  you  as  a  memorial  of  your  heroism  and  skill  as  com- 
mandant of  the  "Monitor"  in  the  action  with  the  "  Merrimac,"  in 
Hampton  Roads.  You  achieved  a  triumph  there  which  is  not  surpassed 
even  by  the  glories  that  already  gild  our  naval  renown.  The  timely  arrival 
of  the  "  Monitor  "  at  the  scene  of  action  was  of  such  high  importance  as 
to  make  the  event  one  of  the  most  remarkable  in  our  annals. 

The  "  Cumberland  "  and  the  "  Congress,"  two  of  our  noblest  frigates, 
were  summarily  destroyed  by  the  mailed  monster.  Our  naval  suprem- 


45 

acy  seemed  utterly  prostrate.  The  public  mind  was  overwhelmed  with 
the  magnitude  of  the  danger  impending  over  us.  It  was  in  this  hour 
of  trembling  solicitude,  and  while  the  appalling  carnage  of  the  previous 
day  filled  every  loyal  heart  with  anguish  and  humiliation,  that  your 
noble  "  Monitor"  was  permitted  by  a  kind  Providence  to  surmount  the 
perils  of  the  deep  and  come  to  the  rescue.  And  then  ensued  a  struggle 
such  as  never  had  been  witnessed  in  naval  warfare — it  was  between  two 
iron-clad  antagonists. 

From  the  fleet,  the  Fortress  and  the  adjacent  shores  thousands  gazed 
upon  the  scene  in  painful  anxiety.  From  morning  till  noon,  the  storm 
of  battle  continued,  and  the  result  lay  trembling  in  the  balance.  But 
the  heroic  daring  and  consummate  skill  of  Worden,  with  the  genius  of 
Ericsson,  triumphed. 

The  "  Merrimac  "  was  beaten.  The  battle  was  won.  Our  fleet  was 
secured,  and  cities  saved  from  the  attacks  of  this  terrible  foe.  Every 
loyal  heart  was  electrified  with  joy.  Gratitude  for  your  illustrious 
services  was  manifested  in  Legislative  halls  and  in  all  classes  of  society 
throughout  the  Union. 

Accept  this  sword,  emblazoned  with  the  record  of  that  glorious  day, 
as  an  offering  from  your  native  State,  commemorative  of  your  virtues, 
and  as  an  emblem  of  the  victory  which  has  given  you  enduring  fame. 
With  sentiments  of  great  regard,  your  obedient  servant, 

(Signed)  HORATIO  BALLARD, 

Secretary  of  State. 

COMMANDER   WORDEN'S    REPLY. 

NEW  YORK,  December,  1862. 

To  HON.  HORATIO  BALLARD,  Sec'y  of  State  of  State  of  New    York, 
Albany,  N.    Y. : 

To  serve  our  country  in  any  hour  of  peril  has  been  my  highest  ambi- 
tion. I  have  looked  fondly,  in  many  distant  climes,  upon  the  emblem 
of  her  greatness,  power  and  glory  floating  from  the  masthead,  and  ever 
with'  the  determination  that  it  should  never  be  sullied  if  my  life  could 
avert  such  a  calamity. 

It  is  not  surprising  then,  that,  regarded  as  having  won  a  tribute  from 
my  country  and  the  approbation  of  my  own  gallant  and  patriotic  State, 
I  should  feel  that  fame  has  nothing  more  to  offer.  These  events,  while 
they  fill  to  the  brim  the  measure  of  my  happiness,  only  make  me  more 
sensible  of  the  support  which  I  received  from  the  brave  officers  and 
men  associated  with  me,  and  the  heroism  of  the  noble  spirits  who 


46 

less  fortunate  than  myself,  perished  in  the  effort  to  save  our  flag  from 
traitors. 

I  am  happy  that  the  triumph  to  which  you  refer  presents  so  grand  an 
illustration  of  the  great  principle  by  which  our  nation  is  distinguished. 
The  genius  and  skill  of  another  land,  fostered  by  our  institutions, 
furnished  the  means  by  which,  under  the  providence  of  God,  I  have 
been  enabled  to  act  a  part  for  which,  without  such  assistance,  I  would 
not  have  been  qualified. 

The  gratitude  of  our  country  is  an  honor  for  which  men,  far  more 
deserving  than  myself,  have  often  struggled  in  vain.  That  this  should 
be  deemed  a  reward  for  me,  is  a  circumstance  which  I  cannot  mention 
without  feeling  that  nothing  less  than  the  aid  of  heaven  could  have 
produced  a  result  so  gratifying. 

I  am  not  unconscious  that  many  of  my  brethren  in  the  Navy, 
occupying  my  position,  would  have  obtained  the  same  end,  or  that 
thousands  of  our  countrymen  would  have  been  overjoyed  to  have 
rendered  the  same  assistance  or  service;  but  I  hope  I  may  be  pardoned 
in  rejoicing  that  the  opportunity  was  given  me  to  accomplish  the 
greatest  hope  of  my  existence.  For  the  kind  manner  in  which  you 
have  presented  this  testimonial,  I  beg  you  to  accept  my  thanks. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 
(Signed)  JOHN  L.  WOK  DEN, 

Commander  U.  S.  N. 


FROM   THE   NEW  YORK   CHAMBER   OF    COMMERCE. 

CHAMBER  OF  COMMERCE  OF  THE  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK, 

NEW  YORK,  March  2 6th,  1862. 
Lieut.  JOHN  L.  WORDEN,  U.  S.  Navy: 

SIR, — I  have  the  pleasure  of  inclosing  herewith  a  copy  of  resolu- 
tions complimentary  to  yourself,  passed  by  this  chamber  on  the  1 2th 
inst.  Adding  my  hope  that  you  may  be  speedily  restored  to  your  health 
and  to  the  public  service, 

I  am,  with  high  respect,  your  ob'd't  servant, 

(Signed)  J.  SMITH  ROMANS, 

Secretary. 


47 

CHAMBER  OF  COMMERCE  OF  THE  STATE  OF  NEW  YORK, 
NEW  YORK,  March  i2th,  1862. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  this  day,  the 
following  preamble  and  resolution  were  adopted : 

Whereas,  It  is  proper  that  this  Chamber  should  express  its  approba- 
tion on  occasions  of  great  acts  of  heroism;  and, 

Whereas,  Lieut.  Commander  John  L.  Worden,  U.  S.  N.,  on  board  of 
the  "Monitor"  steam  battery,  then  untried  and  just  arrived  from  a 
perilous  passage,  engaged  a  vessel  of  war  five  times  the  size  of  the 
"  Monitor/'  and  four  times  her  power  of  armament,  this  vessel  being 
then  engaged  in  the  destruction  of  our  ships  of  war;  and, 

Whereas,  The  "^Monitor,"  handled  with  great  skill  and  gallantry^ 
did  succeed  in  driving  off  the  "  Merrimac;"  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Chamber  be  presented  to  Lieut. 
Commanding  John  L.  Worden,  his  officers  and  crew,  for  the  great  skill 
and  daring  shown  by  them  in  the  recent  conflict  with  the  rebel  steamer 
"  Merrimac." 

CHAMBER  OF  COMMERCE, 

NEW  YORK,  March  18,  1862. 

I  certify  that  the  preceding  is  a  true  copy  of  preamble  and  resolu- 
tion adopted  by  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  March  i2th,  1862. 

J.  SMITH  ROMANS, 

Secretary. 


A  GOLD   BOX   FROM  THE  CITIZENS  OF  BUFFALO. 
Lieut.  JOHN  L.  WORDEN,  United  States  Navy : 

SIR, — The  undersigned,  citizens  of  Buffalo,  New  York,  ask  your 
acceptance  of  the  accompanying  box,  in  token  of  their  respect  and 
admiration  of  the  gallantry  and  heroism  displayed  by  yourself,  as  com- 
mander of  the  "  Monitor,"  in  her  desperate,  but  triumphant,  conflict 
with  the  "  Merrimac,"  in  Hampton  Roads,  on  the  pth  day  of  March 
ultimo. 

We  sincerely  congratulate  you,  sir,  upon  the  good  fortune  which  has 
given  you  a  place  among  the  heroes  of  your  country ;  and  we  as  sin- 
cerely congratulate  the  service  to  which  you  belong  upon  the  laurels 
which  it  has  acquired  through  your  skill,  courage  and  persistence. 

The  work  of  a  few  exciting  and  perilous  hours  has  rendered  your 
name  illustrious,—"  Not  for  a  day,  but  for  all  time." 


48 

That  you   may  speedily  and    completely  recover  from  the  injuries 
received  during  that  terrific  combat,  in  which  your  bravery  was  tried, 

as  in  a  crucible,  and  found  to  be  pure  and  perfect  metal,  is  the  fervent 
prayer  of  your  friends  and  fellow  citizens, 

DEAN  RICHMOND,           MILLARD  FILLMORE,  WM.  G.  FARGO, 

E.  P.  DORR,                      ALEX.  W.  HARVEY,        *  WM.  MONTEATH, 

FRANK  PEREW,                JOHN  ALLEN,  JR.,  R.  WHEELER, 

H.  E.  HOWARD,               J.  N.  DORR,  WM.  B.  PECK, 

R.  C.  PALMER,                 D.  P.  DOBBINS,  A.  J.  RICH, 

JOHN  L.  JEWETT,             JASON  PARKER,  GEO.  C.  WHITE, 

E.  W.  ENSIGN,                 H.  A.  FRINK,  C.  ENSIGN, 

GEO.  W.  HOLT,                JAMES  D.  SAWYER,  B.  MONTGOMERY, 

J.  M.  RICHMOND,             A.  T.  BLACKMAR,  G.  B.  GATES, 

THOS.  D.  DOLE,               A.  SHERWOOD,  L.  H.  RUMRILL, 

J.  M.  GWINN,                   P.  L.  STERNBERG,  MYRON  P.  BUSH, 

D.  S.  BENNETT,                JOHN  H.  VOUGHT,  SHELDON  PEASE, 

O.  L.  NIMS,                      A.  W.  HORTON,  WM.  PETRIE. 
H.  B.  FLEMING,  Capt.  U.  S.  A. 

BUFFALO,  N.  Y.,  April  8th,  1862. 


NOTES  REFERRING  TO  THE  "MONITOR." 

BY   ALBAN   C.   STIMERS. 

There  were  two  engines  40  inches  diameter  of  cylinder  by  26  inches 
stroke  of  pistons. 

When  the  fires  were  managed  with  skill,  the  engines  would  make  80 
revolutions  per  minute,  and  the  vessel  eight  knots  an  hour  in  smooth 
water.  Six  knots  was,  however,  her  common  speed. 

Left  New  York  harbor  on  the  6th  day  of  March,  1862  ;  weather  fine, 
with  a  fresh  wind,  so  much  so  that  as  soon  as  we  were  outside  of  Sandy 
Hook  the  sea  washed  over  the  deck  so  deeply  that  it  was  not  consid- 
ered safe  to  permit  the  men  to  go  on  deck,  the  top  of  the  turret  only 
being  available.  This  was  20  feet  diameter  by  9  feet  high. 

The  next  day  there  was  a  tremendous  gale  with  a  high  sea  running. 
There  were  two  wooden  gunboats  with  us  as  convoys ;  these  rolled  so 
much  that  when  they  rolled  from  us  we  could  see  under  the  bilge,  and 
when  toward  us,  could  see  down  the  main  hatch.  The  motion  of  the 
"  Monitor "  was  so  easy  and  quiet  that  a  glass  inkstand  stood  upon  a 


49 

polished  mahogany  case  on  the  table  in  the  Captain's  cabin  during  the 
entire  voyage  without  slipping.  The  sea  washed  over  the  deck,  how- 
ever, in  the  most  terrific  manner ;  the  only  inconvenience  from  this  was 
that  the  water  came  down  the  air  pipes  which  supplied  the  blowers, 
causing  the  belt  to  break  and  the  stoppage  of  the  blowers ;  also, 
causing  the  gases  of  the  furnace  fires  to  flow  out  of  the  ash-pan  doors 
into  the  engine  room  and  thence  throughout  the  vessel,  driving  all 
hands  to  the  top  of  the  turret.  The  steam  went  down  and  the 
engines  were  stopped  during  four  hours.  Many  of  the  firemen  and  all 
the  engineers  were  so  asphyxiated  that  the  lives  of  some  of  them  were 
despaired  of. 

During  the  night  following,  the  wire  wheel-ropes  came  off  the  wheel 
and  all  hands  were  occupied  most  of  the  night  in  steering,  by  hauling 
on  the  ropes  by  hand,  and  getting  on  the  wheel  again. 

On  the  morning  of  the  8th,  and  during  the  day,  the  weather  was 
calm  and  the  sea  smooth.  At  two  P.  M.  we  heard  the  guns  of  the 
"  Merrimac"  in  her  conflict  with  the  wooden  vessels,  and  as  we 
approached  at  night  could  see  the  broadsides  of  fire.  We  surmised 
correctly  the  situation,  and  cleared  for  action,  expecting  the  enemy 
would  come  out  on  her  way  North,  a  trip  we  intended  to  prevent  if  it 
was  in  our  power. 

We  arrived  off  Fortress  Monroe  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening  of 
the  8th,  and  the  Captain  and  myself  spent  the  evening  on  board  the 
"  Roanoke,"  as  she  was  commanded  by  the  senior  naval  officer  present 
in  those  waters,  Captain  Marston.  There  we  learned  the  state  of 
affairs,  and  went  up  to  Newport  News  and  anchored  near  the  frigate 
"  Minnesota,"  which  was  aground,  and  which  we  were  ordered  to 
protect  from  the  assaults  of  the  enemy  the  next  morning.  We  finally 
anchored  there  at  two  o'clock  A.  M.  of  the  Qth. 

The  guns  on  the  "  Monitor  "  were  Dahlgren,  eleven-inch  shell  guns, 
weighing  16,000  pounds  each.  There  were  two.  We  threw  cast-iron 
solid  shot,  spherical,  weighing  168  pounds  each,  with  a  charge  of  15 
pounds  of  powder. 

.  The  engagement  commenced  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  and 
lasted  until  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  We  were  struck  twenty-one 
times,  eight  times  on  the  side  armor,  twice  on  the  pilot-house,  seven 
times  on  the  turret,  and  four  times  on  the  deck.  None  of  these  were 
injurious,  except  one  of  those  on  the  pilot-house;  this  broke  one  of 
the  iron  beams  of  which  it  was  formed,  and  placed  the  Captain  hors 
de  combat. 

He  was  the  only  person  wounded,  though   several  were  knocked 
down  by  leaning  against  the  inside  of  the  turret  while  a  shot  from  the 
4 


50 

enemy  struck  the  outside  in  the  vicinity.  I  was  one  of  these,  but  as  I 
was  only  touching  my  hand,  I  immediately  jumped  up  again,  while 
those  who  were  leaning  their  shoulder  against  it  were  senseless  for  a 
couple  of  hours,  and  then  greatly  excited  during  a  couple  more. 

Very  truly  yours, 

ALB  AN  C.  STIMERS. 


STATEMENT  RELATING  TO  "MERRIMAC"  ETC. 

BY  CAPTAIN  JAMES  BYERS. 

Captain  James  Byers,  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  was  at  Norfolk  from  Sept., 
1860,  to  the  8th  day  of  May,  1862,  Master  of  steam  tug  "  J.  B.  White," 
built  at  Buffalo  by  Geo.  Notter.  He  was  employed  by  the  contractors 
building  the  Albemarle  Canal.  The  "Merrimac"  was  sunk  by  the 
Federals  near  the  Navy  Yard,  previous  to  the  evacuation  of  Norfolk, 
to  avoid  her  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  Confederates.  She  was  raised 
for  the  Confederates  by  Baker  Bros.,  wreckers,  and  put  into  the  dock 
at  Norfolk,  cut  down  and  fitted  up — a  heavy  frame  of  wood  covered 
with  heavy  plate  iron.  They  worked  on  her  night  and  day.  She  was 
armed  with  four  heavy  guns  on  each  side,  one  on  bow  and  one  aft — 
ten  heavy  guns  in  all. 

She  went  out  on  Saturday,  the  8th  of  March,  1862,  under  command 
of  Admiral  Buchanan,  and  sunk  the  "Cumberland"  and  "Congress" 
on  that  date.  I  saw  the  fight  from  the  deck  of  my  steamer.  She  also 
exchanged  shots  with  the  "  Minnesota,"  which  was  aground  on  the 
middle  ground  in  Hampton  Roads,  half  way  between  Sewell's  Point 
and  Newport  News.  The  "  Merrimac "  could  have  easily  destroyed 
the  "  Minnesota"  on  Saturday  (March  8th),  but  they  did  not  wish  to 
harm  her — she  would  be  too  valuable  to  them  as  a  prize.  They  felt 
sure  of  her  on  the  morrow,  with  all  the  other  craft  in  the  "  Roads  "  and 
at  anchor  off  Fortress  Monroe. 

The  "Merrimac  "  retired  for  the  night,  and  anchored  off  Sewell's  Point 
until  next  morning.  In  her  encounter  with  the  "  Cumberland "  and 
"  Congress,"  a  shot  from  one  of  the  guns  of  the  "  Cumberland  "  entered 
the  muzzle  of  the  bow  gun  of  the  "  Merrimac,"  bursting  the  gun  and 
killing  seven  men. 

Sunday,  March  gth,  the  "  Merrimac  "  hove  up  and  steamed  out  to 
"  finish  up "  the  work  of  destruction  and  capture  left  undone  the 


day  before.  The  day  was  clear  and  pleasant,  the  sun  shining  brightly, 
with  little  or  no  wind.  Some  Confederate  officers  and  citizens  of  Nor- 
folk came  on  board  my  steamer  at  Norfolk,  and  ordered  me  to  get 
under  way  and  run  out  to  see  the  "  Merrimac "  finish  up.  We  ran 
down  off  Craney  Island,  and  from  our  deck  saw  the  fight  between  the 
"  Monitor "  and  "  Merrimac."  The  Confederates  were  all  in  high 
spirits,  anticipating  an  easy  victory.  They  talked  very  freely  over  the 
mission  and  marked  programme  of  the  "  Merrimac."  She  was  to  cap- 
ture the  "  Minnesota  "  and  all  the  vessels  in  the  Roads,  and  then  to  pro- 
ceed to  New  York  and  other  Eastern  cities.  There  was  no  doubt  about 
the  result,  and  that  she  would  go  where  she  wished,  with  impunity  to 
herself. 

We  had  been  off  Craney  Island  about  half  an  hour,  in  plain  sight  of 
Hampton  Roads  and  the  different  craft  there.  We  saw  the  "Merrimac," 
and  presently  the  "Monitor"  came  out  and  attacked  her.  We  could 
not  tell  what  the  "  Monitor "  was — nothing  had  ever  been  known  of 
her  in  Norfolk,  and  it  was  all  speculation  what  she  was.  The  fight  was 
watched  with  great  interest.  Soon  there  began  to  be  doubts  about  the 
result..  Some  Confederate  officers  who  had  been  down  nearer  than  we 
were,  came  back,  and  in  passing  told  us  that  the  unknown  craft  was  a 
"  wicked  thing"  and  we  better  not  get  too  near  her.  One  of  the  shots 
from  one  of  the  combatants  came  skipping  over  the  water  very  near  us, 
from  nearly  a  mile  distant. 

We  stayed  there  until  the  fight  was  over.  The  "  Merrimac "  came 
back  into  the  river  badly  disabled,  and  almost  in  a  sinking  condition. 
Tugs  had  to  be  used  to  get  her  into  the  dry  dock  at  the  Navy  Yard,  the 
crew  pumping  and  bailing  water  with  all  their  might  to  keep  her  afloat. 
I  saw  her  in  the  dock  at  Norfolk  next  day,  was  on  board  of  her  and 
made  a  personal  examination  of  the  ship.  The  effect  of  the  "  Moni- 
tor's "  guns  upon  the  "  Merrimac  "  was  terrible.  Her  plated  sides  were 
broken  in,  the  iron  plating  rent  and  broken,  the  massive  timbers  of  her 
sides  crushed ;  and  the'  officers  themselves  stated  that  she  could  not 
have  withstood  the  effect  of  the  "  Monitor's  "  guns  any  longer,  and  that 
they  barely  escaped  in  time  from  her.* 

The  "  Merrimac  "  lay  in  dry  dock  repairing  and  strengthening  for  six 
weeks,  when  she  was  again  put  afloat  under  the  command  of  Admiral 
Tattnall.  After  the  "  Merrimac  "  was  repaired  and  came  out  of  dock, 
the  only  thing  she  did  was  to  form  part  of  an  expedition  to  go  out  into 
the  Roads  to  attempt  to  capture  the  "  Monitor."  The  expedition  was 


*  This  was  the  time  when  the  "  Monitor"  retired  a  few  minutes  to  get  some  more 
shot  from  below  into  the  turret. — NOTE  BY  E.  P.  D. 


52 

made  up  of  the  "  Merrimac"  and  two  tugs,  manned  by  thirty  volunteers 
on  each  tug-boat.  They  were  all  armed  and  provided  with  iron  wedges 
and  top  mauls  and  tar  balls.  The  plan  was  to  board  her,  a  tug  on  each 
side  landing  the  men,  and  throwing  lighted  tar  balls  down  through  the 
ventilators  and  wedge  up  the  turret  so  it  would  not  revolve.  They  took 
my  steamer  as  one  of  the  boats,  but  I  refused  to  command  her  or  go 
with  her.  The  "  Monitor/'  luckily  for  them,  did  not  come  out  over  the 
bar  to  give  them  a  chance  to  try  the  experiment.  The  pounding  which 
the  "  Monitor "  gave  the  "  Merrimac  "  the  latter  never  recovered  from. 
They  lost  faith  in  her. 

I  ran  the  blockade  on  the  8th  day  of  May,  1862,  escaping  with  my 
steamer,  the  "  J.  B.  White,"  to  Fortress  Monroe,  where  I  met  President 
Lincoln  with  some  of  his  Cabinet,  giving  him  the  first  information  he 
had  of  the  true  state  of  affairs  at  Norfolk,  and  the  preparations  made 
by  the  rebels  to  evacuate  it. 

Admiral  Tattnall  blew  up  the  "  Merrimac  "  off  Craney  Island  shortly 
afterwards — a  fitting  end  to  a  gallant  but  unfortunate  ship  in  the  service 
she  was  last  engaged  in. 

JAMES  BYERS- 


UN,VERS,TYOFCAL,FORN,AL.BRARY 

Los  Angeles 
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